Ecolab Inc. vs SYSCO Corporation — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $274.31 (market cap $76.06B), while SYSCO Corporation trades at $82.44 (market cap $38.60B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and SYSCO Corporation pays the higher dividend (2.73%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ECL | SYY | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $76.06B | $38.60B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $91.16 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $69.30 |
Enterprise Value | $84.81B | $52.08B |
Dividend Yield | 1.08% | 2.73% |
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.
Sysco Corporation (SYY) trades at $82.85, down 0.73% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $83.67. The company reported mixed recent earnings, missing estimates in Q1 2026 but beating in the prior two quarters. Revenue growth has been steady, reaching $81.37B in 2025, though net income margin has softened to 2.08%. Recent news highlights operational planning for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and recognition for AI innovation in its supply chain.
The outlook is cautiously positive, supported by analyst consensus and stable cash flow generation. Key opportunities include continued market share gains in food distribution and efficiency initiatives. Primary risks involve margin pressure from inflation, high leverage with a debt-to-asset ratio near 50%, and exposure to cyclical foodservice demand, which could impact earnings growth and shareholder returns.
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 →Sysco is the largest U.S. food-service distributor, boasting 17% market share of the highly fragmented food-service distribution industry. Sysco distributes over 400,000 food and nonfood products to restaurants (63% of revenue), healthcare facilities (8%), education and government buildings (8%), travel and leisure (7%), and other locations (14%) where individuals consume away-from-home meals. In fiscal 2022, 82% of the firm's revenue was U.S.-based, with 7% from Canada, 4% from the U.K., 2% from France, and 4% other.
Read more on SYY →