Ecolab Inc. vs Lamb Weston Holdings Inc — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $285.5 (market cap $79.73B), while Lamb Weston Holdings Inc trades at $52.79 (market cap $7.12B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is far larger — about 11.2× Lamb Weston Holdings Inc's market cap, and Lamb Weston Holdings Inc pays the higher dividend (2.93%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ECL | LW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $79.73B | $7.12B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $66.57 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $38.48 |
Enterprise Value | $88.51B | $11.00B |
Dividend Yield | 1.03% | 2.93% |
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.
Lamb Weston (LW) trades at $52.27, up 0.42% today, with a bullish technical outlook and consistent earnings beats. The stock shows strong profitability with a 16.28% ROE and trades at a P/E of 25.13. Recent Q2 2026 results exceeded expectations with EPS of $0.87 versus $0.626 estimated. The company maintains a solid dividend yield with a recent $0.38 per share payout announced.
The outlook is positive given operational improvements and cost savings, though international headwinds and margin pressures pose risks. Analyst consensus is a 'Hold' with a $53.86 price target, indicating modest upside. Investors should weigh strong North American growth against geopolitical and cost challenges impacting international segments.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Lamb Weston is the world's second-largest producer of branded and private-label frozen potato products, such as French fries, sweet potato fries, tater tots, diced potatoes, mashed potatoes, hash browns, and chips. The company also has a small appetizer business that produces onion rings, mozzarella sticks, and cheese curds. Including joint ventures, 63% of fiscal 2022 revenue was U.S.-based, with the remainder stemming from Europe, Canada, Japan, China, Korea, Mexico, and several other countries. Lamb Weston's customer mix is estimated 58% quick-serve restaurants, 19% full-service restaurants, 8% other food services (hotels, commercial cafeterias, arenas, schools), and 16% retail. Lamb Weston became an independent company in 2016 when it was spun off from Conagra.
Read more on LW →