Ashland (ASH) vs Ecolab (ECL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Ashland (ASH) has outperformed Ecolab (ECL) over the past year, gaining 45.5% versus a gain of 0.1%. Over five years, ECL leads with a +27.9% price change compared with -26.2% for ASH. Ecolab is the larger company by market cap ($79.03 billion vs $3.23 billion), about 24.5 times the size.
On valuation, Ashland trades at a lower forward P/E (16.4x vs 30.0x for Ecolab). Ashland offers the higher dividend yield (2.36% vs 1.01%). Ecolab converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 12.9% versus -46.3%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ASH | ECL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $70.47 | $281.94 |
| Market cap | $3.23B | $79.03B |
| 1-day change | -0.31% | +0.09% |
| YTD return | +20.49% | +7.30% |
| 1-year return | +45.45% | +0.12% |
| 5-year return | -26.16% | +27.92% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 45.17 | 37.84 |
| Forward P/E | 16.39 | 29.97 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.56 | $7.45 |
| Dividend yield | 2.36% | 1.01% |
| Annual dividend | $1.67 | $2.84 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.82B | $16.08B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -13.68% | +2.16% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-845.00M | $2.08B |
| Gross margin | 30.10% | 44.46% |
| Operating margin | -42.49% | 17.02% |
| Net margin | -46.33% | 12.91% |
| 52-week high | $78.25 | $309.27 |
| 52-week low | $47.12 | $243.15 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.94% | -8.84% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.40% | +15.29% |
| Average volume | 682.22K | 1.27M |
| Shares outstanding | 45.79M | 280.33M |
| Employees | 2,900 | 48,000 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Specialty Chemicals | Package Goods/Cosmetics |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Ecolab is about 24.5 times larger than Ashland by market value ($79.03B vs $3.23B).
- ASH has outperformed ECL by 45.3 percentage points over the past year.
- Ashland offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.36% vs 1.01%).
- Ecolab is more profitable, keeping 12.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -46.3 cents for Ashland.
- Ecolab grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+2.16% vs -13.68%).
About Ashland
ASH stock →Ashland Inc. provides additives and specialty ingredients in the North and Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Specialty Chemicals · 2,900 employees
About Ecolab
ECL stock →Ecolab Inc. provides water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services in the United States and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Package Goods/Cosmetics · 48,000 employees
ASH vs ECL FAQ
Which is bigger, Ashland or Ecolab?
Ecolab (ECL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $79.03B compared with $3.23B for Ashland (ASH).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ASH or ECL?
ASH returned +45.45% over the past 12 months, compared with +0.12% for ECL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ASH or ECL?
ECL has the lower trailing P/E at 37.8, versus 45.2 for ASH. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Ashland or Ecolab?
Ashland has the higher yield at 2.36%, compared with 1.01% for Ecolab.
Are Ashland and Ecolab in the same industry?
Both are in the Consumer Discretionary sector, but in different industries: Specialty Chemicals for Ashland and Package Goods/Cosmetics for Ecolab.