Ecolab Inc. vs Williams Companies Inc — how do they compare? Ecolab Inc. trades at $273.84 (market cap $76.06B), while Williams Companies Inc trades at $74.96 (market cap $90.97B). The key difference: Williams Companies Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Williams Companies Inc pays the higher dividend (2.82%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ECL | WMB | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $76.06B | $90.97B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Energy |
52-Week High | $308.35 | $79.40 |
52-Week Low | $245.73 | $56.51 |
Enterprise Value | $84.81B | $120.35B |
Dividend Yield | 1.08% | 2.82% |
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.
Williams Companies (WMB) trades at $74.76, down 1.61% on the day, with a neutral technical outlook and strong analyst support. The stock shows robust profitability with a 23.4% net margin and 21.95% ROE, while recent news highlights a $5.34 billion Blackstone-led investment for power projects. Cash flow trends improved in 2025, with net cash flow turning positive to $3 million after a 2024 deficit.
WMB presents a favorable long-term outlook with a consensus price target of $85.67 and no sell ratings among analysts. Risks include high debt levels and exposure to natural gas price volatility, but the company's fee-based midstream model and strategic investments in energy infrastructure support dividend growth and earnings potential.
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 →Williams is a midstream energy company that owns and operates the large Transco and Northwest pipeline systems and associated natural gas gathering, processing, and storage assets. In August 2018, the firm acquired the remaining 26% ownership of its limited partner, Williams Partners.
Read more on WMB →