BHP Billiton Limited vs Ecolab Inc. — how do they compare? BHP Billiton Limited trades at $84.94 (market cap $205.61B), while Ecolab Inc. trades at $270.58 (market cap $75.92B). The key difference: BHP Billiton Limited is far larger — about 2.7× Ecolab Inc.'s market cap, and BHP Billiton Limited pays the higher dividend (3.15%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BHP | ECL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $205.61B | $75.92B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $93.15 | $308.35 |
52-Week Low | $50.37 | $245.73 |
Enterprise Value | $219.82B | $84.66B |
Dividend Yield | 3.15% | 1.08% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
BHP trades at $81.37, down 0.38% with neutral technical signals. The stock shows strong profitability with 18.97% net margin and 20.13% ROE, though recent earnings missed expectations in Q4 2025. Cash flow remains positive with $75M net in 2024, while debt-to-asset ratio increased to 17.65%. Recent news highlights labor strikes and a $2.3B writedown at the Jansen potash project.
Outlook is mixed: solid fundamentals and analyst buy ratings (22.58%) support potential upside, but near-term risks from operational disruptions and cost overruns may pressure shares. Investors should weigh strong cash generation against execution challenges under new leadership.
ECL trades at $271.85, down 0.9% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $327.43, implying significant upside. Recent financials show revenue growth to $16.08B in 2025 and a net income margin of 12.8%, though earnings have been mixed with a Q2 2026 estimate of $2.08 pending. The company's acquisition of CoolIT for $4.75B strengthens its AI cooling portfolio, positioning it for long-term growth in high-tech markets.
The outlook for ECL is positive, supported by strong analyst buy ratings (75.68%) and strategic expansions, but risks include execution of recent acquisitions and cost pressures. The stock's current valuation multiples, such as a P/E of 36.79, suggest premium pricing that requires sustained earnings growth to justify further gains.
Trailing returns across standard periods
BHP Group Limited operates as a mining company. The Company engages in the exploration, development, production, and processing of iron ore, metallurgical coal, and copper. BHP Group serves customers worldwide.
Read more on BHP →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 →