Compare AES Corp (AES) vs Ecolab Inc. (ECL) Price & Performance
Price performance
Price movement over the last 24 hours
Key statistics
Key statistics
AES Corp vs Ecolab Inc. — how do they compare? AES Corp trades at $14.66 (market cap $10.43B), while Ecolab Inc. trades at $274.62 (market cap $79.67B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is far larger — about 7.6× AES Corp's market cap, and AES Corp pays the higher dividend (4.81%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AES | ECL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $10.43B | $79.67B |
Sector | Utilities | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $17.28 | $308.35 |
52-Week Low | $11.07 | $245.73 |
Enterprise Value | $39.77B | $88.42B |
Dividend Yield | 4.81% | 1.03% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AES trades at $14.62, up 0.27% on the day, with strong fundamentals including a P/E of 7.59 and net income margin of 10.82%. Recent quarters show consistent earnings beats, while technical indicators signal bearish momentum. The company's pending $33.4 billion acquisition by a BlackRock/EQT consortium, approved by stockholders on June 26, 2026, caps near-term upside at $15 per share but provides a stable exit pathway.
The investment case hinges on the acquisition closing, offering a 2.6% gain to the $15 buyout price plus dividend yield. Risks include deal completion uncertainty and shareholder litigation. With no sell-side analysts recommending sell, the stock presents a low-risk arbitrage opportunity with defined upside and limited downside if the transaction proceeds as planned.
ECL trades at $283.08, down 0.1% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $1.70, meeting expectations, and maintains strong profitability with a net income margin of 12.8%. Recent acquisition of CoolIT for $4.75B enhances its AI cooling portfolio, positioning for long-term growth. Cash flow from operations remains robust at $3.0B in 2025, though net cash flow turned negative due to significant investing activities.
Outlook is positive with 73% analyst buy ratings and a consensus price target of $326.17, implying 15% upside. Risks include rising costs and integration challenges from acquisitions. The stock's high P/E of 38.39 suggests premium valuation, requiring sustained earnings growth to justify current levels.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
About AES Corp
AES is a global power company operating across 14 countries and 4 continents. Its current generation portfolio as of year-end 2021 consists of over 31 gigawatts of generation, with the generation mix composed of renewables (43%), gas (32%), coal (23%), and oil (2%). The company has 3.5 gigawatts of generation under construction. AES has majority ownership and operates six electric utilities distributing power to 2.6 million customers.
Read more on AES →About Ecolab Inc.
Ecolab produces and markets cleaning and sanitation products for the hospitality, healthcare, and industrial markets. The firm is the global market share leader in this category with a wide array of products and services, including dish and laundry washing systems, pest control, and infection control products. The company has a strong hold on the U.S. market and is looking to increase its profitability abroad. Additionally, Ecolab serves customers in water, manufacturing, and life sciences end markets, selling customized solutions.
Read more on ECL →
