Ecolab Inc. vs Freeport-McMoRan Inc — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $275.91 (market cap $78.05B), while Freeport-McMoRan Inc trades at $66.93 (market cap $96.91B). The key difference: Freeport-McMoRan Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Ecolab Inc. pays the higher dividend (1.05%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ECL | FCX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $78.05B | $96.91B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Basic Materials |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $71.73 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $35.34 |
Enterprise Value | $86.84B | $103.19B |
Dividend Yield | 1.05% | 0.87% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Ecolab Inc. (ECL) trades at $278.02, down 2.24% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, beating EPS estimates with $2.09 versus $2.08 expected, driven by 5% organic sales growth. Recent acquisition of CoolIT for $4.75 billion strengthens its AI cooling portfolio. Valuation ratios are elevated, with a P/E of 38.21 and P/S of 4.8, reflecting premium pricing for its consistent profitability and market position.
The outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $327.90, implying 18% upside, supported by 78% analyst buy ratings. Key risks include high valuation sensitivity to earnings misses, as seen in Q1 2026, and rising input costs pressuring margins. Long-term growth is underpinned by digital expansion and high-tech segment strength, but investors should monitor execution on guidance and macroeconomic pressures on industrial demand.
FCX trades at $69.23, down 1.84% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages and strong support at $68. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $0.68, beating estimates, and maintains robust cash flow from operations of $5.61 billion in 2025. Recent news highlights growth from Grasberg ramp-up and copper market tailwinds.
Outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $73.85, reflecting 6.7% upside, driven by earnings beats and expansion projects. Risks include commodity price volatility and execution challenges at new mines. Analyst sentiment is strongly bullish with 61% buy ratings, but overbought RSI levels suggest near-term caution.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Freeport-McMoRan Inc is an international mining company. It operates geographically diverse assets with proven and probable mineral reserves of copper, gold and molybdenum. The company's portfolio of assets includes the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia
Read more on FCX →