$309.27
Value $87.2B
EcolabvsSensient Technologies
ECL and SXT stock compared: price, dividend, valuation and results, from SEC filings.
+1.60%
$116.70
Value $5.0B
Ecolab (ECL) has a market value of $87.2B and Sensient Technologies (SXT) $5.0B. Over the last year, with dividends, ECL moved +19.8% and SXT +24.9%. The P/E is 41.9 for ECL and 29.3 for SXT. Dividend yield: ECL 0.94%, SXT 1.41%.
At a glance
The main figures of both. A bar only shows which number is larger, not which is better.
Market value
ECL$87.2B
SXT$5.0B
ECL is 18 times SXT
Revenue, 12 months
ECL$17.4B
SXT$1.7B
ECL is 9.9 times SXT
Net income, 12 months
ECL$2.1B
SXT$169M
ECL is 12 times SXT
Operating margin
ECL16.7%
SXT14.5%
2.2 points apart
ROIC
ECL11.6%
SXT9.8%
1.8 points apart
P/E
ECL41.9
SXT29.3
ECL is 1.4 times SXT
Dividend yield
ECL0.9%
SXT1.4%
0.5 points apart
5-year return
ECL+38.8%
SXT+26.9%
11.9 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.
ECL+38.8%
SXT+26.9%
| Period | ECLWith dividends | SXTWith dividends |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year since November 12, 2025 | +19.8%Price +18.5% | +24.9%Price +23.1% |
| 3 years since November 13, 2023 | +78.2%+21.2% a yearPrice +72.8% | +114.6%+29.0% a yearPrice +103.0% |
| 5 years since November 12, 2021 | +38.8%+6.8% a yearPrice +31.2% | +26.9%+4.9% a yearPrice +14.7% |
| 10 years since November 15, 2016 | +201.9%+11.7% a yearPrice +171.0% | +90.4%+6.6% a yearPrice +55.0% |
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.
ECLEcolabSXTSensient Technologies
Valuation
ECLSXT| Price | $309.27 | $116.70 |
|---|---|---|
| Market value | $87.2B | $5.0B |
| Enterprise value (EV) | $99.7B | $5.7B |
| P/E | 41.9 | 29.3 |
| P/E, 5-year median | 38.2 | 29.7 |
| P/B | 8.4 | 3.9 |
| EV/EBIT | 34.3 | 22.5 |
| Free cash flow yield | 2.1% | – |
Results and growth
ECLSXT| Revenue, 12 months | $17.4B | $1.7B |
|---|---|---|
| Net income, 12 months | $2.1B | $169M |
| Free cash flow, 12 months | $1.8B | -$18M |
| Earnings per share, 12 months | $7.35 | $3.97 |
| Revenue growth, year on year | 2.2% | 3.5% |
| Revenue growth a year, past | +6.4%over 5 years | +3.9%over 5 years |
| EPS growth a year, past | – | +4.1%over 5 years |
Margins and returns on capital
ECLSXT| Gross margin | 43.9% | 35.1% |
|---|---|---|
| Operating margin | 16.7% | 14.5% |
| Net margin | 12.0% | 9.7% |
| ROIC | 11.6% | 9.8% |
| ROE | 20.8% | 13.8% |
Balance sheet
ECLSXT| Cash | $722M | $43M |
|---|---|---|
| Total debt | $13.4B | $790M |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 3.5 | 2.4 |
| Interest cover | 7.4× | 8.0× |
Dividends and buybacks
ECLSXT| Dividend yield | 0.9% | 1.4% |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend per share, 12 months | $2.92 | $1.64 |
| Dividend growth a year, past | +7.2%over 5 years | +1.0%over 5 years |
| Buyback yield | 0.9% | – |
| Shareholder yield | 1.8% | 1.4% |
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.
Which is bigger, Ecolab or Sensient Technologies?
By market value, Ecolab ($87.2B) is about 17.6 times Sensient Technologies ($5.0B), at today's prices.
How did ECL and SXT stock do over the last 10 years?
Since November 15, 2016, ECL's price moved +171.0% and SXT's +55.0%. With dividends: ECL +201.9% (+11.7% a year), SXT +90.4% (+6.6% a year). Past returns do not predict future ones.
Which pays the higher dividend, ECL or SXT?
The dividend yield at today's price is 0.94% for Ecolab and 1.41% for Sensient Technologies. Over the last twelve months they paid $2.92 and $1.64 per share.
What is the P/E of ECL and SXT?
At today's price, the P/E is 41.9 for ECL and 29.3 for SXT. The median of the last five years was 38.2 and 29.7, which shows where each stands against its own past.
Which has the higher profit margins, Ecolab or Sensient Technologies?
Over the last twelve months, the net margin was 12.0% for Ecolab and 9.7% for Sensient Technologies, and the operating margin 16.7% and 14.5%. Revenue was $17.4B and $1.7B.
Which is the better investment, Ecolab or Sensient Technologies?
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.
US stocksThe market today, the sectors, the largest companies and the week's results.The market's sectorsThe 11 sectors side by side: returns, share of the market, median P/E and dividend.Compare stocksTwo companies side by side: price over up to ten years, with and without dividends, and every figure.US dividend stocksEach dividend's yield next to whether the company's cash covers it and whether it was ever cut.
Descriptive data from SEC filings and market prices.