Ecolab Inc. vs Tidewater Inc — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $282.08 (market cap $78.97B), while Tidewater Inc trades at $85.17 (market cap $4.21B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is far larger — about 18.8× Tidewater Inc's market cap, and Ecolab Inc. pays a 1.04% dividend while Tidewater Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Ecolab Inc. for 90 Days and Tidewater Inc for 25 Days on average.
| ECL | TDW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $78.97B | $4.21B |
Volume | 974,947 | 590,005 |
Sector | Basic Materials | Energy |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $100.61 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $47.29 |
Typical Hold Time | 90 Days | 25 Days |
Enterprise Value | $87.75B | $4.25B |
Dividend Yield | 1.04% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ECL trades at $278.10, down 0.97% on the day, with strong analyst support (78% buy ratings) and a $326.38 consensus price target suggesting 17% upside. The stock shows bullish technical signals with support at $275 and resistance at $279. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations with 9.7% sales growth, while the company maintains dividend aristocrat status with consistent payout increases.
ECL presents a compelling growth story with expanding high-tech and digital segments, though elevated valuation multiples (P/E 37.81) and rising debt from the CoolIT acquisition warrant caution. The essential nature of its hygiene and water management services provides defensive characteristics, while upcoming Q3 earnings on October 27 will be critical for validating growth trajectory.
Tidewater (TDW) trades at $85.16, up 2.11% today, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The stock shows strong profitability with an 18.34% net margin and 19.49% ROE, though recent earnings missed expectations in Q1 and Q2 2026. The company completed the Wilson Sons Ultratug acquisition in August 2026, enhancing its offshore services footprint. Cash flow remains robust with $252.54M net cash flow in 2025.
Outlook is mixed: analyst consensus targets $105.50 (23.9% upside), but earnings volatility and competitive pressures pose risks. Institutional interest is strong, with BlackRock investing $503.20M in Q2 2026. Investors should weigh solid fundamentals against execution risks in a volatile energy market.
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 →Tidewater is the leading global provider of offshore support vessels (OSVs) to the energy industry. With the world's largest fleet of platform supply vessels (PSVs) and anchor handling tugs (AHTS), it provides critical logistics and marine support for offshore oil, gas, and renewable energy projects. Following a period of massive strategic consolidation, Tidewater is now focused on maximizing day rates and free cash flow in a supply-constrained market, positioning itself as a primary beneficiary of the multi-year offshore upcycle.
Read more on TDW →