Price movement over the last 24 hours
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. vs Ecolab Inc. — how do they compare? Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. trades at $296.7 (market cap $66.70B), while Ecolab Inc. trades at $274.34 (market cap $77.20B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.42%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| APD | ECL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $66.70B | $77.20B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $314.19 | $308.35 |
52-Week Low | $230.42 | $245.73 |
Enterprise Value | $84.11B | $85.95B |
Dividend Yield | 2.42% | 1.06% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
APD trades at $299.53, up 1.24% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong analyst support. Recent earnings beats and strategic project exits, like the Louisiana Clean Energy Complex, have boosted investor confidence. The company maintains solid profitability margins but faces pressure from a negative net income in 2025 due to a pre-tax charge. Cash flow trends show volatility, with significant investing outflows for growth initiatives.
The outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $324.89, implying ~8% upside. Risks include high debt levels, execution on new projects, and macroeconomic sensitivity. Long-term growth is supported by renewable energy investments, but near-term profitability recovery is key for sustained gains.
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
Latest headlines on both assets
Since its founding in 1940, Air Products has become one of the leading industrial gas suppliers globally, with operations in 50 countries and 19,000 employees. The company is the largest supplier of hydrogen and helium in the world. It has a unique portfolio serving customers in a number of industries, including chemicals, energy, healthcare, metals, and electronics. Air Products generated $10.3 billion in revenue in fiscal 2021.
Read more on APD →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 →