Ecolab Inc. vs Kroger Co — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $273.88 (market cap $76.06B), while Kroger Co trades at $58.73 (market cap $34.65B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is far larger — about 2.2× Kroger Co's market cap, and Kroger Co pays the higher dividend (2.24%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ECL | KR | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $76.06B | $34.65B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $75.60 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $55.53 |
Enterprise Value | $84.81B | $54.75B |
Dividend Yield | 1.08% | 2.24% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
No Aura AI signal available yet.
Kroger (KR) trades at $57.92, down 1.4% on the day, with a bearish technical outlook and mixed fundamentals. The stock shows a high P/E of 55.29 but a low P/S of 0.28, with recent earnings beating estimates in Q3 and Q4 2025 but missing in Q1 2026. The company's $1.65 billion acquisition of Giant Eagle aims to expand its Midwest footprint, while cash flow trends remain volatile with a net cash flow of $2.08 billion in 2025.
The outlook is cautiously optimistic, supported by analyst consensus of $68.63 and a 47.72% buy rating, but risks include rising debt-to-asset ratios and competitive pressures. Near-term performance hinges on execution of the Giant Eagle integration and Q2 2026 earnings results.
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 →Kroger is the leading American grocer, with 2,726 supermarkets operating under several banners throughout the country as of the end of fiscal 2021. Around 83% of stores have pharmacies, while nearly 60% also sell fuel. The company also operates roughly 120 fine jewelry stores. Kroger features a leading private-label offering and manufactures around 30% of its own-brand units (and more than 40% of its grocery own-label assortment) itself, in 33 food production plants nationwide. Kroger is a top-two grocer in most of its major markets (as of early 2021, according to company data). Virtually all of Kroger's sales come from the United States.
Read more on KR →