Ecolab Inc. vs Lowe`s Companies Inc — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $273.88 (market cap $76.06B), while Lowe`s Companies Inc trades at $214.74 (market cap $117.56B). The key difference: Lowe`s Companies Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Lowe`s Companies Inc pays the higher dividend (2.38%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ECL | LOW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $76.06B | $117.56B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $287.39 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $206.62 |
Enterprise Value | $84.81B | $159.31B |
Dividend Yield | 1.08% | 2.38% |
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.
Lowe's Companies (LOW) trades at $213.81, up 2.94% on the day, with a bearish technical signal but strong analyst consensus. Recent earnings beats and a 7.51% net income margin highlight operational strength, though revenue has declined from $96.2B in 2022 to $83.7B in 2025. The stock shows support near $205 and resistance at $215, with a consensus price target of $260.88 implying 22% upside. Dividend growth remains a key attraction, with the quarterly payout rising to $1.25.
LOW offers value with a P/E of 17.72 and bullish analyst sentiment (60.79% buy ratings), but faces risks from high debt levels and competitive pressures. The outlook hinges on execution in the professional segment and interest rate sensitivity, with near-term volatility expected around Q2 earnings.
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 →Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world, operating 1,969 stores and servicing around 230 dealer-owned stores throughout the United States and Canada. The firm's stores offer products and services for home decorating, maintenance, repair, and remodeling, with maintenance and repair accounting for two thirds of products sold. Lowe's targets retail do-it-yourself (around 75% of sales) and do-it-for-me customers as well as commercial and professional business clients (around 25% of sales). We estimate Lowe's captures a low-double-digit share of the domestic home improvement market, based on U.S. Census data and management's estimates for market size.
Read more on LOW →