Ecolab Inc. vs FMC Corp — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $274.31 (market cap $76.06B), while FMC Corp trades at $11.47 (market cap $1.36B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is far larger — about 55.9× FMC Corp's market cap, and FMC Corp pays the higher dividend (2.95%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ECL | FMC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $76.06B | $1.36B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Basic Materials |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $43.90 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $10.72 |
Enterprise Value | $84.81B | $5.50B |
Dividend Yield | 1.08% | 2.95% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ECL trades at $269.75, down 0.77% on the day, with a bearish technical signal. The stock shows strong fundamentals with 2025 revenue of $16.08B and net income of $2.08B, though recent quarterly EPS results have been mixed. The company recently completed the $4.75B CoolIT acquisition to strengthen its AI cooling portfolio, positioning high-tech as a growth engine. Analyst consensus remains strongly bullish with a $327.43 price target, representing 21% upside potential from current levels.
The outlook is positive given strong analyst support and strategic acquisitions, but risks include execution of the CoolIT integration, rising cost pressures, and mixed quarterly earnings performance. The stock's premium valuation (P/E 36.57) requires sustained earnings growth to justify current levels, making upcoming Q2 2026 results on July 28 critical for near-term direction.
FMC Corporation (FMC) trades at $10.72, down 1.74% on the day, reflecting ongoing challenges despite recent strategic moves. The stock shows a bearish technical trend with oversold RSI signals, while fundamentals reveal significant pressure with a net income margin of -72.93% and negative ROE of -80.78% for 2025. Recent developments include a $400 million minority investment from Tessenderlo Group and regulatory submission for new herbicide rimisoxafen, providing some operational support amid financial restructuring.
The outlook remains cautious with analyst consensus leaning neutral (50% Hold) despite a $16 price target suggesting 49% upside. Key risks include persistent revenue declines, high debt levels, and negative cash flow from operations. Investment opportunity exists if new product approvals and debt reduction efforts successfully stabilize profitability, but current financial metrics indicate substantial execution risk near term.
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 →FMC is a pure-play crop chemical company. The company has diversified its sales to create a balanced crop chemical portfolio across geographies and crop exposure. Through acquisitions, FMC is now one of the five largest patented crop chemical companies and will continue to develop new products, with a focus on biologicals, through its research and development pipeline.
Read more on FMC →