Duke Energy Corp vs Ecolab Inc. — how do they compare? Duke Energy Corp trades at $116.51 (market cap $90.06B), while Ecolab Inc. trades at $281.36 (market cap $77.96B). The key difference: Duke Energy Corp is the larger of the two by market cap, and Duke Energy Corp pays the higher dividend (3.76%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Duke Energy Corp for 74 Days and Ecolab Inc. for 90 Days on average.
| DUK | ECL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $90.06B | $77.96B |
Volume | 3,988,081 | 1,145,536 |
Sector | Utilities | Basic Materials |
52-Week High | $133.46 | $308.35 |
52-Week Low | $113.23 | $245.73 |
Typical Hold Time | 74 Days | 90 Days |
Enterprise Value | $182.56B | $86.74B |
Dividend Yield | 3.76% | 1.05% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Duke Energy (DUK) trades at $116.84, up 1.02% on the day, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals including consistent earnings beats and a 15.78% net income margin. Recent news highlights dividend stability and data center growth opportunities, though rising Treasury yields pressure utility stocks. The company maintains solid cash flow from operations of $12.33B in 2025, supporting its dividend payments.
DUK offers a balanced outlook with a consensus price target of $135.33, implying upside, but faces risks from high debt levels and interest rate sensitivity. Earnings growth and data center demand are key catalysts, while investor sentiment is mixed amid macroeconomic headwinds.
Ecolab (ECL) trades at $281.69, up 0.31% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $326.38. The company reported revenue of $16.08B in 2025 with a net income margin of 12.57%, and recent earnings have mostly met or exceeded expectations. Strong institutional buying and insider purchases, alongside positive news coverage highlighting its dividend growth and essential business model, support a constructive outlook.
The stock presents a favorable risk-reward profile given its steady revenue growth, high profitability, and analyst optimism, though elevated valuation ratios and increased debt from the CoolIT acquisition pose risks. The upcoming Q3 2026 earnings report on October 27, 2026, will be a key catalyst for near-term price direction.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Duke Energy is one of the largest U.S. utilities, with regulated utilities in the Carolinas, Indiana, Florida, Ohio, and Kentucky that deliver electricity to nearly 8 million customers. Its natural gas utilities serve more than 1.5 million customers. Duke operates in three major segments: electric utilities and infrastructure
Read more on DUK →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 →