Ecolab Inc. vs Marathon Petroleum Corp — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $274.02 (market cap $76.06B), while Marathon Petroleum Corp trades at $307.66 (market cap $87.34B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. and Marathon Petroleum Corp are close in size by market cap, and Marathon Petroleum Corp pays the higher dividend (1.31%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ECL | MPC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $76.06B | $87.34B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Energy |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $303.40 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $158.59 |
Enterprise Value | $84.81B | $119.52B |
Dividend Yield | 1.08% | 1.31% |
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.
Marathon Petroleum (MPC) trades at $303.40, up 2.2% on the day and near its recent highs, supported by strong technical momentum and bullish analyst sentiment. The stock demonstrates robust profitability with a 27.92% ROE and 3.42% net margin, though revenue has declined from $177.5B in 2022 to $132.7B in 2025. Recent news highlights the company's advantage from elevated refining margins and strategic upgrades, while a pending class-action lawsuit regarding AI price-fixing in California presents a notable risk.
The outlook is positive, driven by sustained high refining crack spreads and strategic positioning, with a consensus analyst price target of $292.70. Key risks include potential legal liabilities from the California lawsuit, volatile energy markets, and execution risks in maintaining profitability amid fluctuating crude costs.
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 →Marathon Petroleum is an independent refiner with 13 refineries in the midcontinent, West Coast, and Gulf Coast of the United States with total throughput capacity of 2.9 million barrels per day. Its Dickinson, ND, facility produces 184 million gallons a year of renewable diesel. Its Martinez, CA, facility will have the ability to produce 730 million gallons a year of renewable diesel once converted. The firm also owns and operates midstream assets primarily through its listed MLP, MPLX.
Read more on MPC →