EcolabvsVulcan Materials

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

ECL

Ecolab Inc.

$309.27

Value $87.2B

+1.60%
ECL's page

VMC

Vulcan Materials Company

$278.63

Value $36.4B

-0.55%
VMC's page

Ecolab (ECL) has a market value of $87.2B and Vulcan Materials (VMC) $36.4B. Over the last year, with dividends, ECL moved +19.8% and VMC -4.9%. The P/E is 41.9 for ECL and 33.0 for VMC. Dividend yield: ECL 0.94%, VMC 0.75%.

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

    VMC$36.4B

    ECL is 2.4 times VMC

  • Revenue, 12 months

    ECL$17.4B

    VMC$8.0B

    ECL is 2.2 times VMC

  • Net income, 12 months

    ECL$2.1B

    VMC$1.1B

    ECL is 1.9 times VMC

  • Operating margin

    ECL16.7%

    VMC20.3%

    3.6 points apart

  • ROIC

    ECL11.6%

    VMC9.9%

    1.7 points apart

  • P/E

    ECL41.9

    VMC33.0

    ECL is 1.3 times VMC

  • Dividend yield

    ECL0.9%

    VMC0.8%

    0.1 points apart

  • 5-year return

    ECL+38.8%

    VMC+43.6%

    4.8 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%

VMC+43.6%

10015020222023202420252026
Returns by period
PeriodECLWith dividendsVMCWith dividends
1 year since November 12, 2025+19.8%Price +18.5%-4.9%Price -5.6%
3 years since November 13, 2023+78.2%+21.2% a yearPrice +72.8%+35.3%+10.6% a yearPrice +32.4%
5 years since November 12, 2021+38.8%+6.8% a yearPrice +31.2%+43.6%+7.5% a yearPrice +37.7%
10 years since November 15, 2016+201.9%+11.7% a yearPrice +171.0%+125.9%+8.5% a yearPrice +106.9%

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.

ECLEcolabVMCVulcan Materials

Valuation

ECLVMC
Valuation
Price$309.27$278.63
Market value$87.2B$36.4B
Enterprise value (EV)$99.7B$41.0B
P/E41.933.0
P/E, 5-year median38.237.6
P/B8.44.3
EV/EBIT34.325.2
Free cash flow yield2.1%2.2%

Results and growth

ECLVMC
Results and growth
Revenue, 12 months$17.4B$8.0B
Net income, 12 months$2.1B$1.1B
Free cash flow, 12 months$1.8B$781M
Earnings per share, 12 months$7.35$8.44
Revenue growth, year on year2.2%7.1%
Revenue growth a year, past+6.4%over 5 years+10.3%over 5 years
EPS growth a year, past–+13.1%over 5 years

Margins and returns on capital

ECLVMC
Margins and returns on capital
Gross margin43.9%27.5%
Operating margin16.7%20.3%
Net margin12.0%13.8%
ROIC11.6%9.9%
ROE20.8%13.0%

Balance sheet

ECLVMC
Balance sheet
Cash$722M$107M
Total debt$13.4B$5.3B
Net debt / EBITDA3.51.9
Interest cover7.4×7.2×

Dividends and buybacks

ECLVMC
Dividends and buybacks
Dividend yield0.9%0.8%
Dividend per share, 12 months$2.92$2.08
Dividend growth a year, past+7.2%over 5 years+7.6%over 5 years
Buyback yield0.9%1.2%
Shareholder yield1.8%2.0%

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: ECL or VMC

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Which is bigger, Ecolab or Vulcan Materials?

By market value, Ecolab ($87.2B) is about 2.4 times Vulcan Materials ($36.4B), at today's prices.

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

Since November 15, 2016, ECL's price moved +171.0% and VMC's +106.9%. With dividends: ECL +201.9% (+11.7% a year), VMC +125.9% (+8.5% a year). Past returns do not predict future ones.

Which pays the higher dividend, ECL or VMC?

The dividend yield at today's price is 0.94% for Ecolab and 0.75% for Vulcan Materials. Over the last twelve months they paid $2.92 and $2.08 per share.

What is the P/E of ECL and VMC?

At today's price, the P/E is 41.9 for ECL and 33.0 for VMC. The median of the last five years was 38.2 and 37.6, which shows where each stands against its own past.

Which has the higher profit margins, Ecolab or Vulcan Materials?

Over the last twelve months, the net margin was 12.0% for Ecolab and 13.8% for Vulcan Materials, and the operating margin 16.7% and 20.3%. Revenue was $17.4B and $8.0B.

Which is the better investment, Ecolab or Vulcan Materials?

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.