Century AluminumvsEcolab

CENX and ECL stock compared: price, dividend, valuation and results, from SEC filings.

ECL

Ecolab Inc.

$309.27

Value $87.2B

+1.60%
ECL's page

Century Aluminum (CENX) has a market value of $3.4B and Ecolab (ECL) $87.2B. Over the last year, with dividends, CENX moved +15.1% and ECL +19.8%. The P/E is 3.8 for CENX and 41.9 for ECL. Dividend yield: CENX none, ECL 0.94%.

At a glance

The main figures of both. A bar only shows which number is larger, not which is better.

  • Market value

    CENX$3.4B

    ECL$87.2B

    ECL is 26 times CENX

  • Revenue, 12 months

    CENX$3.0B

    ECL$17.4B

    ECL is 5.8 times CENX

  • Net income, 12 months

    CENX$891M

    ECL$2.1B

    ECL is 2.3 times CENX

  • Operating margin

    CENX30.7%

    ECL16.7%

    14.0 points apart

  • ROIC

    CENX62.5%

    ECL11.6%

    50.9 points apart

  • P/E

    CENX3.8

    ECL41.9

    ECL is 11 times CENX

  • Dividend yield

    CENX0.0%

    ECL0.9%

    0.9 points apart

  • 5-year return

    CENX+112.7%

    ECL+38.8%

    73.9 points apart

A fainter bar means a negative number. The 5-year return includes dividends.

The price over time

Both start at 100 at the beginning of the period, so the lines show how much each changed. With dividends means each dividend buys more shares.

CENX+112.7%

ECL+38.8%

20040020222023202420252026
Returns by period
PeriodCENXWith dividendsECLWith dividends
1 year since November 12, 2025+15.1%Price +15.1%+19.8%Price +18.5%
3 years since November 13, 2023+405.6%+71.6% a yearPrice +405.6%+78.2%+21.2% a yearPrice +72.8%
5 years since November 12, 2021+112.7%+16.3% a yearPrice +112.7%+38.8%+6.8% a yearPrice +31.2%
10 years since November 14, 2016+242.4%+13.1% a yearPrice +242.4%+202.4%+11.7% a yearPrice +171.3%

Each cell: the total return with dividends, its yearly rate, and the price change alone. Before taxes and costs. Past returns do not predict future ones.

Every figure

As on each company's page. A description, not a recommendation: no one figure says which is better.

CENXCentury AluminumECLEcolab

Valuation

CENXECL
Valuation
Price$34.03$309.27
Market value$3.4B$87.2B
Enterprise value (EV)$3.1B$99.7B
P/E3.841.9
P/E, 5-year median–38.2
P/B2.08.4
EV/EBIT3.434.3
Free cash flow yield15.6%2.1%

Results and growth

CENXECL
Results and growth
Revenue, 12 months$3.0B$17.4B
Net income, 12 months$891M$2.1B
Free cash flow, 12 months$526M$1.8B
Earnings per share, 12 months$8.53$7.35
Revenue growth, year on year13.9%2.2%
Revenue growth a year, past+9.5%over 5 years+6.4%over 5 years
EPS growth a year, past––

Margins and returns on capital

CENXECL
Margins and returns on capital
Gross margin24.7%43.9%
Operating margin30.7%16.7%
Net margin29.7%12.0%
ROIC62.5%11.6%
ROE76.6%20.8%

Balance sheet

CENXECL
Balance sheet
Cash$713M$722M
Total debt$480M$13.4B
Net debt / EBITDA-0.23.5
Interest cover–7.4×

Dividends and buybacks

CENXECL
Dividends and buybacks
Dividend yield–0.9%
Dividend per share, 12 months–$2.92
Dividend growth a year, past–+7.2%over 5 years
Buyback yield–0.9%
Shareholder yield–1.8%

Last 12 months from the latest 10-Q and 10-K. Value, P/E and yields at today's price. A dash means the figure does not exist or did not pass our checks.

Questions: CENX or ECL

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Which is bigger, Century Aluminum or Ecolab?

By market value, Ecolab ($87.2B) is about 25.9 times Century Aluminum ($3.4B), at today's prices.

How did CENX and ECL stock do over the last 10 years?

Since November 14, 2016, CENX's price moved +242.4% and ECL's +171.3%. With dividends: CENX +242.4% (+13.1% a year), ECL +202.4% (+11.7% a year). Past returns do not predict future ones.

Which pays the higher dividend, CENX or ECL?

The dividend yield at today's price is none for Century Aluminum and 0.94% for Ecolab. Over the last twelve months they paid – and $2.92 per share.

What is the P/E of CENX and ECL?

At today's price, the P/E is 3.8 for CENX and 41.9 for ECL. It is the share price over the last twelve months' earnings per share.

Which has the higher profit margins, Century Aluminum or Ecolab?

Over the last twelve months, the net margin was 29.7% for Century Aluminum and 12.0% for Ecolab, and the operating margin 30.7% and 16.7%. Revenue was $3.0B and $17.4B.

Which is the better investment, Century Aluminum or Ecolab?

The page does not answer that and does not suggest buying or selling. It puts the two companies' numbers side by side, from their SEC filings, for you to read and form your own view. The decision depends on your goals and situation.

Other comparisons

With each of the two, and with the largest in its sector.

Related pages

The other pages on US stocks, free to read. On the company pages, the last three fiscal years are open to everyone, five with a free account, and every year with Ploutos Investor.

Descriptive data from SEC filings and market prices.