Ecolab Inc. vs National Beverage Corp. — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $282.15 (market cap $78.97B), while National Beverage Corp. trades at $30.56 (market cap $2.89B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is far larger — about 27.3× National Beverage Corp.'s market cap, and Ecolab Inc. pays a 1.04% dividend while National Beverage Corp. pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Ecolab Inc. for 90 Days and National Beverage Corp. for 33 Days on average.
| ECL | FIZZ | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $78.97B | $2.89B |
Volume | 974,947 | 553,950 |
Sector | Basic Materials | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $37.73 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $29.20 |
Typical Hold Time | 90 Days | 33 Days |
Enterprise Value | $87.75B | $2.84B |
Dividend Yield | 1.04% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ECL trades at $278.10, down 0.97% on the day, with strong analyst support (78% buy ratings) and a $326.38 consensus price target suggesting 17% upside. The stock shows bullish technical signals with support at $275 and resistance at $279. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations with 9.7% sales growth, while the company maintains dividend aristocrat status with consistent payout increases.
ECL presents a compelling growth story with expanding high-tech and digital segments, though elevated valuation multiples (P/E 37.81) and rising debt from the CoolIT acquisition warrant caution. The essential nature of its hygiene and water management services provides defensive characteristics, while upcoming Q3 earnings on October 27 will be critical for validating growth trajectory.
FIZZ trades at $29.60, down 1.4% with bearish technical signals. The company reported stagnant $1.2B revenue but improved net margins to 15.55% in 2025. Recent earnings misses and a $3.25 special dividend highlight mixed performance. Technical indicators show strong bearish momentum with support at $29 and resistance at $30.
Outlook remains challenged by margin pressure and growth stagnation. While strong profitability metrics (40% ROE) provide support, analyst sentiment is cautious with 50% sell ratings. Key risks include competitive pressures and input cost inflation affecting gross margins.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →National Beverage Corp is one of the top 10 non-alcoholic beverage companies in the U.S. Its portfolio skews toward functional drinks (that is those purporting to offer health benefits) and is anchored by the popular LaCroix sparkling water trademark. Other offerings include Rip It energy drinks, Everfresh juices, and soda brands like Shasta and Faygo. The firm controls most of its production and distribution apparatus, with very little outsourcing. In terms of go-to-market, it uses warehouse distribution for big-box retailers, direct-store-delivery for convenience stores and other small outlets, and food-service distributors for the food-service channel (schools, hospitals, restaurants). It is controlled by chairman and CEO Nick Caporella, who owns over 73% of the common stock.
Read more on FIZZ →