Ecolab Inc. vs KLA Corp. — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $274.17 (market cap $76.06B), while KLA Corp. trades at $220.53 (market cap $293.26B). The key difference: KLA Corp. is far larger — about 3.9× Ecolab Inc.'s market cap, and Ecolab Inc. pays the higher dividend (1.08%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ECL | KLAC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $76.06B | $293.26B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Technology |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $301.71 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $84.39 |
Enterprise Value | $84.81B | $294.45B |
Dividend Yield | 1.08% | 0.41% |
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.
KLA Corporation (KLAC) trades at $230.37, up 3.65% on the day, showing strong momentum after consistently beating earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters. The stock maintains a bullish technical signal with moving averages supporting upward momentum, while fundamental metrics reveal high valuation multiples offset by robust profitability and revenue growth. Recent corporate actions include a 1:10 stock split in June 2026 and a $2.30 dividend payment, reflecting management confidence.
Outlook remains positive with analyst consensus at 'Buy' and a $242.33 price target, though rich valuation (P/E 63.58, P/S 22.67) presents near-term risk. The company benefits from AI-driven semiconductor equipment demand and maintains dominant market share in process control, but faces margin pressure and trade-related volatility that could impact shareholder returns.
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 →KLA designs and manufactures yield-management and process-monitoring diagnostic and control systems for the semiconductor manufacturing industry. The systems are used to analyze the manufacturing process at various steps in a semiconductor's development. The firm's laser-scanning products are used for wafer qualification, process monitoring, and equipment monitoring. KLA also provides inspection tools and systems for optical metrology and e-beam metrology.
Read more on KLAC →