Ecolab Inc. vs Nutrien Ltd — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $280.33 (market cap $79.79B), while Nutrien Ltd trades at $66.73 (market cap $32.05B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is far larger — about 2.5× Nutrien Ltd's market cap, and Nutrien Ltd pays the higher dividend (3.27%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ECL | NTR | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $79.79B | $32.05B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Basic Materials |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $83.94 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $53.64 |
Enterprise Value | $88.57B | $43.86B |
Dividend Yield | 1.03% | 3.27% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ECL trades at $281.17, down 1.14% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong institutional interest. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $2.09, beating estimates, and raised full-year guidance to $8.05-$8.25. Revenue growth remains steady at 5% organic, supported by pricing gains and volume increases. Valuation ratios are elevated with a P/E of 38.21, reflecting premium pricing for consistent performance.
Outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $327.90, implying 16.6% upside. Risks include high valuation sensitivity and rising input costs. The stock offers growth potential from digital expansion and recent CoolIT acquisition, but investors should monitor margin pressures and debt levels.
Nutrien (NTR) trades at $66.43, up 0.18% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company reported mixed Q2 2026 earnings, missing EPS estimates but beating revenue expectations, driven by higher potash prices. Financials show a net income margin of 8.44% for 2025, with a P/E ratio of 13.62 indicating reasonable valuation. Recent news highlights institutional buying and dividend declarations, while cash flow trends indicate consistent operational strength amid net outflows.
Outlook remains cautiously optimistic with a consensus price target of $76.17, suggesting 14.6% upside, supported by analyst buy ratings at 60.6%. Key opportunities include structural gas arbitrage benefits and agricultural cycle recovery, but risks involve input cost pressures, volatile fertilizer demand, and earnings consistency challenges. The stock presents a value opportunity with dividend yield, though macroeconomic and sector-specific headwinds warrant monitoring.
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 →Created in 2018 as a result of the merger between PotashCorp and Agrium, Nutrien is the world's largest fertilizer producer by capacity. Nutrien produces the three main crop nutrients--nitrogen, potash, and phosphate--although its main focus is potash, where it is the global leader in installed capacity with roughly 20% share. The company is also the largest agricultural retailer in the United States, selling fertilizers, crop chemicals, seeds, and services directly to farm customers through its brick-and-mortar stores and online platforms.
Read more on NTR →