Ecolab Inc. vs Smith & Nephew plc — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $273.79 (market cap $76.06B), while Smith & Nephew plc trades at $31.41 (market cap $12.81B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is far larger — about 5.9× Smith & Nephew plc's market cap, and Smith & Nephew plc pays the higher dividend (2.54%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ECL | SNN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $76.06B | $12.81B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Health |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $38.70 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $28.73 |
Enterprise Value | $84.81B | $15.58B |
Dividend Yield | 1.08% | 2.54% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ECL trades at $273.62, up 1.43% with a bearish technical signal despite strong analyst support. The company shows solid fundamentals with $16.08B revenue, 12.8% net margin, and 22.31% ROE. Recent Q1 2026 earnings met expectations while Q2 2026 results are pending. The $4.75B CoolIT acquisition strengthens AI cooling capabilities, positioning for long-term growth in high-tech markets.
ECL presents a compelling growth story with improving profitability and strategic acquisitions, though current valuation multiples appear elevated. Key risks include execution of recent acquisitions and rising cost pressures. With 76% analyst buy ratings and a $327.43 consensus target suggesting 20% upside, the stock offers potential for patient investors despite near-term technical weakness.
Smith & Nephew (SNN) trades at $31.41, up 5.28% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The company shows improving fundamentals with revenue growth from $5.8B in 2024 to $6.2B projected for 2025 and net income margin expanding to 10.14%. Recent product launches in robotics and wound care, plus a $500M share buyback, highlight strategic execution. Analyst consensus is mixed with 27% buy ratings but 68% hold, reflecting cautious optimism amid earnings volatility where two of the last four quarters missed expectations.
Outlook: SNN's recovery trajectory and product innovation support long-term growth, but investor patience is needed due to earnings inconsistency and moderate debt levels. Key risks include competitive pressures in medtech and execution on guidance. The stock presents a value opportunity if operational improvements continue, trading at reasonable valuations (P/E 21.5, P/S 2.18) versus sector peers.
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 →Smith & Nephew designs, manufactures, and markets orthopedic devices, sports medicine and arthroscopic technologies, and wound-care solutions. Roughly 42% of the U.K.-based firm's revenue comes from orthopedic products, and another 30% is sports medicine and ENT. The remaining 28% of revenue is from the advanced wound therapy segment. Roughly half of Smith & Nephew's total revenue comes from the United States, just over 30% is from other developed markets, and emerging markets account for the remainder.
Read more on SNN →