Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc vs Ecolab Inc. — how do they compare? Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc trades at $19.35 (market cap $826.08M), while Ecolab Inc. trades at $273.39 (market cap $77.20B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is far larger — about 93.5× Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc's market cap, and Ecolab Inc. pays a 1.06% dividend while Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMPH | ECL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $826.08M | $77.20B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $30.81 | $308.35 |
52-Week Low | $16.87 | $245.73 |
Enterprise Value | $1.22B | $85.95B |
Dividend Yield | — | 1.06% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AMPH trades at $18.72, down 1.58% with bearish technical signals despite oversold RSI readings. The company reported mixed Q1 2026 results with EPS of $0.42 missing estimates of $0.70, continuing a trend of recent earnings disappointments. Valuation metrics appear reasonable with P/E of 11.29 and P/B of 1.07, while profitability remains solid with 47.34% gross margins. Recent news includes a Zacks Strong Sell rating and ongoing securities law investigation.
The stock faces near-term headwinds from earnings misses and negative analyst sentiment, though current valuations provide some downside protection. Upside potential exists if the company can execute its strategic pivot to proprietary drugs and biosimilars while managing BAQSIMI discount pressures. Key risks include ongoing legal scrutiny and competitive pressures in the generic drug market.
ECL trades at $274.31, up 0.47% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst support. The company reported $16.08B in 2025 revenue, $2.08B net income, and maintains robust profitability with a 12.8% net margin and 22.31% ROE. Recent news highlights the $4.75B CoolIT acquisition, expanding its AI cooling portfolio, and a consistent dividend payout.
Outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $327.43, implying 19% upside, though risks include rising costs and negative cash flow trends. Earnings growth and digital expansion are key catalysts, but investors should monitor execution on acquisitions and margin pressures.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Amphastar is a specialty pharmaceutical company that develops and markets injectable, intranasal, and inhalation products. Its portfolio includes both complex generic drugs and proprietary delivery systems.
Read more on AMPH →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 →