Price movement over the last 24 hours
A O Smith Corp vs Ecolab Inc. — how do they compare? A O Smith Corp trades at $60.44 (market cap $8.33B), while Ecolab Inc. trades at $278.17 (market cap $77.20B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is far larger — about 9.3× A O Smith Corp's market cap, and A O Smith Corp pays the higher dividend (2.35%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AOS | ECL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.33B | $77.20B |
Sector | Industrials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $80.47 | $308.35 |
52-Week Low | $55.78 | $245.73 |
Enterprise Value | $8.78B | $85.95B |
Dividend Yield | 2.35% | 1.06% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
A.O. Smith (AOS) trades at $60.44, up 2.41% today, with a bearish technical signal despite recent leadership changes. The company reported mixed Q1 2026 earnings, missing EPS estimates at $0.85 versus $0.94 expected, while maintaining solid profitability with a 13.84% net margin. Cash flow trends show improving operations, and the stock offers a dividend with a recent $0.36 payout announced.
The outlook is cautious due to earnings volatility and bearish technicals, but valuation appears reasonable with a P/E of 16.12. Risks include China market weakness and competitive pressures, while analyst consensus leans hold with a $68 price target suggesting modest upside potential from current levels.
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
A.O. Smith Corporation manufactures and markets comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas, gas tankless, and electric water heaters. Supplementary products include water heating equipment, condensing and noncondensing boilers, and water system tanks. The company's two operating segments are by geographic region: North America (majority of total revenue) and the Rest of the World. A material portion of sales in North America derive from replacing existing products, and the company utilizes a wholesale distribution channel and multiple selling locations. The Rest of the World segment sells primarily to Asian countries and operates sales offices to expand distribution and market its product portfolio.
Read more on AOS →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 →