Ecolab Inc. vs PPG Industries, Inc. — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $274.02 (market cap $76.06B), while PPG Industries, Inc. trades at $118.28 (market cap $25.70B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is far larger — about 3× PPG Industries, Inc.'s market cap, and PPG Industries, Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.46%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ECL | PPG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $76.06B | $25.70B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Basic Materials |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $131.56 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $94.34 |
Enterprise Value | $84.81B | $31.81B |
Dividend Yield | 1.08% | 2.46% |
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.
PPG Industries trades at $114.68, up 0.73% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals including a 9.83% net margin and 21.09% ROE. Recent earnings beat expectations in Q1 2026, and the company continues innovation in aerospace and coatings, supported by a $0.71 dividend. Cash flow from operations improved to $1.94B in 2025, though debt levels have risen.
The outlook is mixed: analyst consensus is bullish with a $131.75 price target, but technical indicators and rising debt pose risks. Investment appeal lies in profitability and innovation, yet investors face volatility from economic cycles and competitive pressures in the coatings industry.
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 →PPG is a global producer of coatings. The company is the world's largest producer of coatings after the purchase of selected Akzo Nobel assets. PPG's products are sold to a wide variety of end users, including the automotive, aerospace, construction, and industrial markets. The company has a footprint in many regions around the globe, with less than half of sales coming from North America in recent years. PPG is focused on its coatings and specialty products and expansion into emerging regions, as exemplified by the Comex acquisition.
Read more on PPG →