Ecolab Inc. vs Genuine Parts Company — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $281.36 (market cap $77.96B), while Genuine Parts Company trades at $127.56 (market cap $17.29B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is far larger — about 4.5× Genuine Parts Company's market cap, and Genuine Parts Company pays the higher dividend (3.39%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Ecolab Inc. for 90 Days and Genuine Parts Company for 75 Days on average.
| ECL | GPC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $77.96B | $17.29B |
Volume | 1,145,536 | 900,870 |
Sector | Basic Materials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $149.26 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $92.47 |
Typical Hold Time | 90 Days | 75 Days |
Enterprise Value | $86.74B | $23.38B |
Dividend Yield | 1.05% | 3.39% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
GPC trades at $128.17, up 0.62% today, with a bearish technical signal but neutral oscillators. The company reported mixed earnings, missing in Q4 2025 but beating in Q1 and Q2 2026, with Q3 2026 results due October 20, 2026. Revenue grew to $24.3B in 2025, but net income margin fell sharply to 0.13%. Analyst consensus is a Buy with a $145.75 price target, and the upcoming spinoff of the industrial unit Motion in Q1 2027 is a key catalyst.
The outlook is cautiously optimistic due to the spinoff potential and dividend stability, but risks include declining profitability, high P/E ratio of 501.64, and bearish technical trends. Investors should weigh the long-term benefits of the separation against near-term margin pressures and debt levels rising to 23.08% of assets in 2025.
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 →Genuine Parts sells automotive parts (about two thirds of net sales) and industrial components. The company sells vehicle parts to commercial and retail customers through roughly 9,700 stores worldwide, most of which are independently owned. Its industrial unit, primarily operating under the Motion Industries banner in the United States, supplies bearings, power transmission, industrial automation, hydraulic, and pneumatic components to maintenance, repair, and OEM clients.
Read more on GPC →