Ecolab Inc. vs Gold Fields Limited — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $280.3 (market cap $78.97B), while Gold Fields Limited trades at $36.94 (market cap $31.87B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is far larger — about 2.5× Gold Fields Limited's market cap, and Gold Fields Limited pays the higher dividend (6%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Ecolab Inc. for 90 Days and Gold Fields Limited for 49 Days on average.
| ECL | GFI | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $78.97B | $31.87B |
Volume | 974,947 | 4,169,651 |
Sector | Basic Materials | Basic Materials |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $61.52 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $31.25 |
Typical Hold Time | 90 Days | 49 Days |
Enterprise Value | $87.75B | $32.47B |
Dividend Yield | 1.04% | 6% |
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.
Gold Fields (GFI) trades at $35.05, down 3.1% amid market reaction to its rejected $27 billion bid for Northern Star. The stock shows a bearish technical signal with key support at $34-$35, while fundamentals remain strong with a 40.76% net margin and low P/E of 7.3. Recent earnings saw mixed results, with one beat and three misses against expectations.
The outlook is balanced: robust cash flow and high profitability support upside toward the $52.75 analyst target, but acquisition uncertainty and technical weakness pose near-term risks. Investor sentiment is cautious pending clarity on M&A strategy and capital allocation.
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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 →Gold Fields Ltd is a producer of gold and is a holder of gold reserves and resources in South Africa, Ghana, Australia and Peru. In Peru, the company also produces copper. The company is primarily involved in underground and surface gold and surface copper mining and silver and related activities, including exploration, extraction, processing and smelting. It conducts underground and surface mining operations at St. Ives, underground-only operations at Agnew, Granny Smith and South Deep and surface-only open pit mining at Damang, Tarkwa and Cerro Corona. The company's revenues are derived from the sale of gold that it produces.
Read more on GFI →