Ecolab Inc. vs UnitedHealth Group Inc — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $273.22 (market cap $76.06B), while UnitedHealth Group Inc trades at $434.81 (market cap $380.08B). The key difference: UnitedHealth Group Inc is far larger — about 5× Ecolab Inc.'s market cap, and UnitedHealth Group Inc pays the higher dividend (2.22%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ECL | UNH | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $76.06B | $380.08B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Health |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $431.68 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $237.77 |
Enterprise Value | $84.81B | $426.76B |
Dividend Yield | 1.08% | 2.22% |
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.
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) trades at $425.19, down 0.91% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages. The stock shows strong fundamentals with revenue growth to $447.57B in 2025 and consistent earnings beats, though net margins have compressed. Recent news highlights strategic moves to reduce pediatric prior authorizations, aiming to improve care access and operational efficiency.
Outlook remains positive with an 82.69% analyst buy rating and $438.33 consensus target, but risks include regulatory lawsuits and debt levels. The aging U.S. population and tech investments provide growth tailwinds, yet investors should monitor margin pressures and legal challenges from state Medicaid suits.
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 →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 →