Ecolab Inc. vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $281.83 (market cap $78.97B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $480.72 (market cap $68.83B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. and Northrop Grumman Corporation are close in size by market cap, and Northrop Grumman Corporation pays the higher dividend (2.04%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Ecolab Inc. for 90 Days and Northrop Grumman Corporation for 81 Days on average.
| ECL | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $78.97B | $68.83B |
Volume | 974,947 | 1,081,989 |
Sector | Basic Materials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $473.46 |
Typical Hold Time | 90 Days | 81 Days |
Enterprise Value | $87.75B | $82.81B |
Dividend Yield | 1.04% | 2.04% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ECL trades at $281.69, up 1.29% with strong analyst support (78% buy ratings) and a $326.38 consensus target. The stock shows bullish technical momentum above key support at $279, supported by improving fundamentals including 9.7% Q2 sales growth and consistent dividend increases. Recent institutional buying and director purchases signal confidence ahead of Q3 earnings on October 27.
Outlook remains positive with High-Tech and Digital segments driving growth, though elevated P/E of 37.8 and rising debt from the CoolIT acquisition present valuation and execution risks. The dividend aristocrat status and essential service model provide stability, making ECL attractive for long-term investors despite near-term cost pressures.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $484.48, up 2.33% today, but technical indicators signal a bearish trend with the stock below key moving averages. Fundamentally, the company shows strength with a P/E of 15.4, robust profitability margins, and consistent earnings beats in recent quarters. Recent news highlights a mixed environment, including a significant contract loss to Boeing but sustained demand from defense budgets and a record backlog supporting future revenue.
The outlook remains positive due to strong fundamentals and analyst consensus, with a price target of $600.62 implying substantial upside. Key risks include competitive pressures from recent contract losses and dependence on government spending, but the company's financial health and dividend payments provide stability for investors.
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 →Northrop Grumman is a defense contractor that is diversified across short-cycle and long-cycle businesses. The firm's segments include aeronautics, mission systems, defense services, and space systems. The company's aerospace segment creates the fuselage for the massive F-35 program and produces various piloted and autonomous flight systems. Mission systems creates a variety of sensors and processors for defense hardware. The defense systems segment is a long-range missile manufacturer. Finally, the company's space systems segment produces various space structures, sensors, and satellites.
Read more on NOC →