Compare Ecolab Inc. (ECL) vs Boston Beer Company Inc (SAM) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Ecolab Inc. vs Boston Beer Company Inc — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $281.36 (market cap $77.96B), while Boston Beer Company Inc trades at $171.63 (market cap $1.73B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is far larger — about 45.1× Boston Beer Company Inc's market cap, and Ecolab Inc. pays a 1.05% dividend while Boston Beer Company Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Ecolab Inc. for 90 Days and Boston Beer Company Inc for 59 Days on average.
| ECL | SAM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $77.96B | $1.73B |
Volume | 1,145,536 | 196,621 |
Sector | Basic Materials | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $260.05 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $161.08 |
Typical Hold Time | 90 Days | 59 Days |
Enterprise Value | $86.74B | $1.50B |
Dividend Yield | 1.05% | — |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Ecolab (ECL) trades at $281.69, up 0.31% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $326.38. The company reported revenue of $16.08B in 2025 with a net income margin of 12.57%, and recent earnings have mostly met or exceeded expectations. Strong institutional buying and insider purchases, alongside positive news coverage highlighting its dividend growth and essential business model, support a constructive outlook.
The stock presents a favorable risk-reward profile given its steady revenue growth, high profitability, and analyst optimism, though elevated valuation ratios and increased debt from the CoolIT acquisition pose risks. The upcoming Q3 2026 earnings report on October 27, 2026, will be a key catalyst for near-term price direction.
Boston Beer Company (SAM) trades at $168.16, down 1.3% with a neutral technical outlook. The stock shows mixed fundamentals with a P/E of 22.66 and P/S of 0.92, but negative net income margin of -3.64% and ROE of -8.61%. Recent earnings missed expectations in Q1 and Q2 2026, though Q4 2025 beat estimates. The company maintains positive operating cash flow of $270M in 2025 while expanding brand innovation with new product launches and marketing initiatives.
SAM faces headwinds from volume declines and cost pressures, but brand investments and new product categories offer growth potential. Analyst consensus is cautious with 72% hold ratings, though the $204.44 price target suggests 22% upside. Key risks include competitive pressures and shifting consumer preferences in the alcoholic beverage market.
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 Boston Beer Company Inc
Boston Beer is a leader in U.S. high-end malt beverages and adjacent categories, with strong positions in craft beer, hard cider, and hard seltzer. The firm sells an array of flavor variants and package sizes, predominantly centered around four priority brands: Samuel Adams, Angry Orchard, Twisted Tea, and Truly Hard Seltzer. Its drinks are produced in both company-owned breweries as well as through third-party contract arrangements, and while the company primarily goes to market through independent wholesalers (as mandated by law), it operates a fairly large salesforce to induce demand across the value chain (distributors, retailers, and drinkers). The preponderance of revenue is generated domestically.
Read more on SAM →
