Compare Ecolab Inc. (ECL) vs NRG Energy Inc (NRG) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Ecolab Inc. vs NRG Energy Inc — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $273.3 (market cap $76.06B), while NRG Energy Inc trades at $136.24 (market cap $29.10B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is far larger — about 2.6× NRG Energy Inc's market cap, and NRG Energy Inc pays the higher dividend (1.38%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ECL | NRG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $76.06B | $29.10B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Utilities |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $184.03 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $120.65 |
Enterprise Value | $84.81B | $52.92B |
Dividend Yield | 1.08% | 1.38% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
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.
NRG Energy trades at $138.36, down 0.8% on the day, with a bearish technical signal and key support at $136. Fundamentally, the company reported 2025 revenue of $30.71 billion and net income of $864 million, though net margin is thin at 0.74%. Recent earnings show mixed results, with a Q1 2026 miss, while analysts maintain a consensus buy rating with a $190 price target. Cash flow trends are volatile, with 2025 net cash flow positive at $3.83 billion but 2026 projected negative.
The stock presents a valuation case with a high P/E of 151.54 offset by a reasonable P/S of 0.85. Upside is supported by analyst optimism and exposure to energy demand trends, but risks include volatile cash flows, high debt levels, and execution challenges in a competitive market. The upcoming Q2 2026 earnings report on August 4, 2026, will be critical for confirming growth trajectory.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
About Ecolab Inc.
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 →About NRG Energy Inc
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 →
