Ecolab Inc. vs Goldman Sachs Group Inc — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $285.5 (market cap $79.73B), while Goldman Sachs Group Inc trades at $1,034.73 (market cap $301.22B). The key difference: Goldman Sachs Group Inc is far larger — about 3.8× Ecolab Inc.'s market cap, and Goldman Sachs Group Inc pays the higher dividend (1.93%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ECL | GS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $79.73B | $301.22B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Financials |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $1.15K |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $715.95 |
Enterprise Value | $88.51B | — |
Dividend Yield | 1.03% | 1.93% |
Volume | — | 2,592,735 |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ECL trades at $285.17, up 0.6% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst support. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $2.09, beating estimates, and raised full-year guidance. Revenue growth remains steady, with a net income margin of 12.57% and robust cash flow from operations of $2.95B in 2025. Recent news highlights dividend declarations and institutional buying interest.
Outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $327.90, implying 15% upside. Risks include elevated valuation multiples and potential margin pressure from input costs. The stock's momentum is supported by earnings beats and strategic acquisitions, but investors should monitor debt levels and competitive dynamics in the water and hygiene sector.
Goldman Sachs (GS) trades at $1,034.41, down 0.5% on the day, with a neutral technical signal. The company shows strong fundamental momentum with three consecutive quarterly EPS beats and revenue growth accelerating to $58.3B in 2025. Analyst consensus is mixed with 40% buy ratings but a $1,160 price target suggesting 12% upside potential. Recent news highlights Goldman's leadership role in major upcoming IPOs including Anthropic, SpaceX, and OpenAI.
The outlook remains positive given Goldman's positioning in the upcoming AI IPO wave and strong investment banking pipeline. Key risks include volatile cash flow patterns with negative operating cash flow in recent periods and market sensitivity to interest rate changes. The stock appears reasonably valued at 16x P/E with 31.7% net margins supporting further upside if earnings momentum continues.
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 →The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., a bank holding company, is a global investment banking and securities firm specializing in investment banking, trading and principal investments, asset management and securities services. The Company provides services to corporations, financial institutions, governments, and high-net worth individuals.
Read more on GS →