Ecolab Inc. vs Vanguard Value Index Fund ETF — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $273.84 (market cap $76.06B), while Vanguard Value Index Fund ETF trades at $218.45. The key difference: Ecolab Inc. pays a 1.08% dividend while Vanguard Value Index Fund ETF pays none, and Vanguard Value Index Fund ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, Ecolab Inc. nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ECL | VTV | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $76.06B | — |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | — |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $220.51 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $175.51 |
Enterprise Value | $84.81B | — |
Dividend Yield | 1.08% | — |
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.
VTV trades at $218.33, down slightly by 0.13% on the day, with a bearish technical signal but bullish moving averages. The ETF has gained 16% year-to-date and 27% over the past year, driven by investor rotation away from tech into value stocks. Recent news highlights its role as a defensive play amid AI bubble concerns and potential Fed rate hikes, with a focus on large-cap value exposure and a low 0.03% expense ratio.
Outlook remains positive for value-oriented investors seeking diversification from tech concentration, supported by strong inflows and media optimism. Key risks include inflation sensitivity and Fed policy shifts, but the ETF's low-cost structure and dividend yield provide stability. Analyst sentiment is favorable given current market dynamics favoring value stocks over growth.
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 →The fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the CRSP US Large Cap Value Index, a broadly diversified index predominantly made up of value stocks of large US companies. The advisor attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the index.
Read more on VTV →