Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs Ecolab (ECL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) has outperformed Ecolab (ECL) over the past year, gaining 10.2% versus a loss of 0.3%. Over five years, ECL leads with a +26.3% price change compared with +14.4% for CL. Ecolab is the larger company by market cap ($77.96 billion vs $69.52 billion), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, Colgate-Palmolive trades at a lower forward P/E (21.3x vs 29.5x for Ecolab). Colgate-Palmolive offers the higher dividend yield (2.40% vs 1.02%). Ecolab converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 12.9% versus 10.5%.
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 | CL | ECL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $87.21 | $278.10 |
| Market cap | $69.52B | $77.96B |
| 1-day change | -0.05% | -0.97% |
| YTD return | +10.36% | +5.93% |
| 1-year return | +10.24% | -0.32% |
| 5-year return | +14.37% | +26.29% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 34.33 | 37.33 |
| Forward P/E | 21.28 | 29.54 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.54 | $7.45 |
| Dividend yield | 2.40% | 1.02% |
| Annual dividend | $2.09 | $2.84 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $20.38B | $16.08B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +1.40% | +2.16% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $2.13B | $2.08B |
| Gross margin | 60.11% | 44.46% |
| Operating margin | 16.22% | 17.02% |
| Net margin | 10.46% | 12.91% |
| 52-week high | $99.33 | $309.27 |
| 52-week low | $74.55 | $243.15 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -12.20% | -10.08% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +12.77% | +16.88% |
| Average volume | 4.75M | 1.28M |
| Shares outstanding | 797.17M | 280.33M |
| Employees | 33,600 | 48,000 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Package Goods/Cosmetics | 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
- CL has outperformed ECL by 10.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Colgate-Palmolive offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.40% vs 1.02%).
About Colgate-Palmolive
CL stock →Colgate-Palmolive Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells consumer products in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition.
Consumer Discretionary · Package Goods/Cosmetics · 33,600 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
CL vs ECL FAQ
Which is bigger, Colgate-Palmolive or Ecolab?
Ecolab (ECL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $77.96B compared with $69.52B for Colgate-Palmolive (CL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CL or ECL?
CL returned +10.24% over the past 12 months, compared with -0.32% for ECL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CL or ECL?
CL has the lower trailing P/E at 34.3, versus 37.3 for ECL. 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, Colgate-Palmolive or Ecolab?
Colgate-Palmolive has the higher yield at 2.40%, compared with 1.02% for Ecolab.
Are Colgate-Palmolive and Ecolab in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Package Goods/Cosmetics industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.