Ecolab Inc. vs Rent the Runway Inc — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $273.3 (market cap $76.06B), while Rent the Runway Inc trades at $3.39 (market cap $111.69M). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is far larger — about 681× Rent the Runway Inc's market cap, and Ecolab Inc. pays a 1.08% dividend while Rent the Runway Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ECL | RENT | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $76.06B | $111.69M |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $9.39 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $3.10 |
Enterprise Value | $84.81B | $271.79M |
Dividend Yield | 1.08% | — |
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.
RENT stock trades at $3.24, down 2.99% on the day, with a bearish technical signal. The company reported Q1 2026 revenue growth of 29% year-over-year to $89.9 million, beating EPS expectations, but maintains negative net income and free cash flow. Leadership is in transition with a new interim CEO. The balance sheet shows negative shareholder equity of -$182.5 million and high debt levels, though the debt-to-asset ratio is projected to improve significantly by 2026.
The outlook is mixed: low valuation multiples (P/S 0.18) suggest potential upside, but persistent losses, high debt, and leadership changes pose significant risks. Analyst consensus is cautious with 42% buy ratings. Revenue growth and balance sheet improvements are key to watch, but the stock carries high risk due to profitability challenges.
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 →Rent the Runway Inc is an e-commerce platform that allows users to rent, subscribe, or buy designer apparel and accessories.
Read more on RENT →