Ecolab Inc. vs UnitedHealth Group Inc — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $281.42 (market cap $78.97B), while UnitedHealth Group Inc trades at $379.68 (market cap $332.96B). The key difference: UnitedHealth Group Inc is far larger — about 4.2× Ecolab Inc.'s market cap, and UnitedHealth Group Inc pays the higher dividend (2.5%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Ecolab Inc. for 90 Days and UnitedHealth Group Inc for 97 Days on average.
| ECL | UNH | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $78.97B | $332.96B |
Volume | 974,947 | 7,273,749 |
Sector | Basic Materials | Health |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $436.35 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $259.02 |
Typical Hold Time | 90 Days | 97 Days |
Enterprise Value | $87.75B | $374.82B |
Dividend Yield | 1.04% | 2.5% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ECL trades at $282.21, up 1.48% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst support. The stock shows robust fundamentals with 2025 revenue of $16.08B, net income of $2.08B, and a 12.57% net margin. Recent news highlights its dividend aristocrat status and growth in high-tech segments, while institutional buying and insider purchases reflect confidence.
Outlook is positive given earnings beats, dividend reliability, and strategic expansions like the CoolIT deal, though rising debt and cost pressures pose risks. With a consensus price target of $326.38 implying 16% upside, ECL offers growth potential but requires monitoring of leverage and execution.
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) trades at $375.98, showing minor daily weakness but maintaining a bullish technical signal. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, beating estimates, and reaffirmed its full-year outlook. Revenue growth remains robust, though net margins have compressed from prior years. Analyst sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with a consensus price target of $473.89 implying significant upside.
The outlook for UNH is favorable, driven by earnings momentum and strategic initiatives like AI investment. Key risks include regulatory pressures and medical cost trends. The stock presents a compelling opportunity for investors seeking exposure to a leading healthcare company with solid fundamentals and Wall Street support.
Trailing returns across standard periods
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
No sentiment data available yet.
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 →UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest private health insurers, providing medical benefits to 50 million members globally, including 5 million outside the U.S. at the end of 2021. As a leader in employer-sponsored, self-directed, and government-backed insurance plans, UnitedHealth has obtained massive scale in managed care. Along with its insurance assets, UnitedHealth's continued investments in its Optum franchises have created a healthcare services colossus that spans everything from medical and pharmaceutical benefits to providing outpatient care and analytics to both affiliated and third-party customers.
Read more on UNH →