Ecolab Inc. vs Gartner Inc — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $273.95 (market cap $76.06B), while Gartner Inc trades at $141.29 (market cap $8.96B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is far larger — about 8.5× Gartner Inc's market cap, and Ecolab Inc. pays a 1.08% dividend while Gartner Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ECL | IT | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $76.06B | $8.96B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Technology |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $363.58 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $125.68 |
Enterprise Value | $84.81B | $10.55B |
Dividend Yield | 1.08% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ECL trades at $273.62, up 1.43% with a bearish technical signal despite strong analyst support. The company shows solid fundamentals with $16.08B revenue, 12.8% net margin, and 22.31% ROE. Recent Q1 2026 earnings met expectations while Q2 2026 results are pending. The $4.75B CoolIT acquisition strengthens AI cooling capabilities, positioning for long-term growth in high-tech markets.
ECL presents a compelling growth story with improving profitability and strategic acquisitions, though current valuation multiples appear elevated. Key risks include execution of recent acquisitions and rising cost pressures. With 76% analyst buy ratings and a $327.43 consensus target suggesting 20% upside, the stock offers potential for patient investors despite near-term technical weakness.
Gartner (IT) trades at $140.64, up 5.77% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals including a 68.99% gross margin and consistent earnings beats. Recent news highlights its industry influence through Magic Quadrant reports, though an ongoing legal investigation adds uncertainty. The stock is near resistance at $140, with support at $133.
The outlook is mixed: valuation appears reasonable with a P/E of 13.22 and analyst consensus target of $157.60, but negative cash flow trends and high P/B ratio of 141.29 pose risks. Competition and cost pressures remain challenges, while institutional sentiment leans neutral with 55.55% hold ratings.
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 →Based in Stamford, Conn., Gartner provides independent research and analysis on information technology and other related technology industries. Its research is delivered to clients' desktops in the form of reports, briefings, and updates. Typical clients are chief information officers and other business executives who help plan companies' IT budgets. Gartner also provides consulting services and hosted nearly 80 IT conferences across the globe in 2007.
Read more on IT →