Ecolab Inc. vs Shell PLC — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $280.82 (market cap $79.79B), while Shell PLC trades at $89.95 (market cap $250.44B). The key difference: Shell PLC is far larger — about 3.1× Ecolab Inc.'s market cap, and Shell PLC pays the higher dividend (3.45%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ECL | SHEL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $79.79B | $250.44B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Energy |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $94.15 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $70.31 |
Enterprise Value | $88.57B | $292.14B |
Dividend Yield | 1.03% | 3.45% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ECL trades at $284.4, down slightly (-0.27%) on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst support (78% buy ratings). The company reported solid Q2 2026 earnings of $2.09 per share, beating estimates, and raised full-year guidance. Revenue growth is steady, with 2025 revenue at $16.08B, and profitability remains robust with a net income margin of 12.57%. Recent news highlights institutional activity and the completion of the $4.75B CoolIT acquisition, strengthening its high-tech portfolio.
The outlook is positive, driven by earnings momentum, strategic acquisitions, and a consensus price target of $327.90 implying ~15% upside. Key risks include execution of integration for recent acquisitions, input cost pressures, and broader market volatility. The stock presents a compelling opportunity for growth investors seeking exposure to a stable, dividend-paying company with digital and high-tech expansion drivers.
Shell (SHEL) trades at $89.95, up 1.64% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong Q2 2026 earnings beats. The stock shows attractive valuation with a P/E of 10.01 and P/S of 0.88, supported by robust cash flow and a 14.35% ROE. Recent news highlights oil price gains boosting energy stocks and Shell's strategic divestments in renewables.
Outlook is positive with a $103.60 consensus price target and 69% buy ratings, though risks include commodity volatility and regulatory pressures. Earnings growth and debt reduction provide upside, while geopolitical tensions and energy transition uncertainties remain key watchpoints for investors.
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 →Shell is an integrated oil and gas company that explores for, produces, and refines oil around the world. In 2021, it produced 1.7 million barrels of liquids and 8.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. At year-end 2021, reserves stood at 9.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent, 50% of which consisted of liquids. Its production and reserves are in Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and North and South America. The company operates refineries with capacity of 1.8 mmb/d located in the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Europe and sells 15 mtpa of chemicals. Its largest chemical plants, often integrated with its local refineries, are in Central Europe, China, Singapore, and North America.
Read more on SHEL →