Ecolab Inc. vs NRG Energy Inc — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $281.36 (market cap $78.97B), while NRG Energy Inc trades at $106.74 (market cap $22.35B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is far larger — about 3.5× NRG Energy Inc's market cap, and NRG Energy Inc pays the higher dividend (1.79%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Ecolab Inc. for 90 Days and NRG Energy Inc for 62 Days on average.
| ECL | NRG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $78.97B | $22.35B |
Volume | 974,947 | 5,011,942 |
Sector | Basic Materials | Utilities |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $184.03 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $95.23 |
Typical Hold Time | 90 Days | 62 Days |
Enterprise Value | $87.75B | $46.30B |
Dividend Yield | 1.04% | 1.79% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ECL trades at $278.10, down 0.97% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and neutral oscillators. The company reported $16.08B in 2025 revenue, with a net income margin of 12.57% and strong profitability metrics. Recent news highlights its dividend aristocrat status and growth in high-tech segments, while institutional buying and insider purchases reflect confidence.
Outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $326.38, implying 17% upside, supported by analyst buy ratings (78%). Risks include elevated valuation multiples and increased debt from the CoolIT acquisition. Earnings growth in high-tech and digital segments is a key catalyst, though cost fluctuations pose headwinds.
NRG Energy trades at $108.61, up 4.84% with bullish technical signals and strong analyst support. The stock shows robust fundamentals with $30.71B revenue, 2.56% net margin, and attractive valuation at P/E 28.28 and P/S 0.66. Recent developments include a transformative 1.2 GW Texas data center power project and LS Power acquisition driving growth. Cash flow trends improved significantly from 2023's negative $1.5B to 2025's positive $3.83B, though 2026 projects a temporary dip.
Outlook remains positive with 70% analyst buy ratings and $202.90 consensus target representing 87% upside. Key opportunities include data center expansion and customer-backed power projects, while risks involve elevated debt levels (56.42% debt-to-asset ratio) and recent earnings misses. The stock presents growth potential but requires monitoring of execution on major capital projects.
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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 →NRG Energy is one of the largest retail energy providers in the U.S., with 7 million customers, including its 2021 acquisition of Direct Energy. It also is one of the largest U.S. independent power producers, with 16 gigawatts of nuclear, coal, gas, and oil power generation capacity primarily in Texas. Since 2018, NRG has divested its 47% stake in NRG Yield, among other renewable energy and conventional generation investments. NRG exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a stand-alone entity in December 2003.
Read more on NRG →