Ashland Global Holdings Inc (ASH)vsEcolab Inc (ECL)
ASH
Ashland Global Holdings Inc
$76.45
+5.51%
BASIC MATERIALS · Cap: $3.33B
ECL
Ecolab Inc
$285.17
+0.60%
BASIC MATERIALS · Cap: $79.69B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Ecolab Inc generates 814% more annual revenue ($16.84B vs $1.84B). ECL leads profitability with a 12.6% profit margin vs 2.8%. ASH appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.23. ECL earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 53/100 (C-).
ASH
Buy52
out of 100
Grade: C-
ECL
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Reasonable price relative to book value
Large-cap with strong market position
Every $100 of equity generates 21 in profit
Areas to Watch
2.8% margin — thin
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
ROE of -31.0% — below average capital efficiency
Earnings declined 47.5%
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
3.3% earnings growth
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : ASH
The strongest argument for ASH centers on Price/Book. PEG of 1.23 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bull Case : ECL
The strongest argument for ECL centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity.
Bear Case : ASH
The primary concerns for ASH are Profit Margin, P/E Ratio, Return on Equity. A P/E of 46.5x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 2.8% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Bear Case : ECL
The primary concerns for ECL are P/E Ratio, EPS Growth, Piotroski F-Score.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
ECL carries more volatility with a beta of 0.89 — expect wider price swings.
ECL is growing revenue faster at 9.7% — sustainability is the question.
ECL generates stronger free cash flow (97M), providing more financial flexibility.
Monitor SPECIALTY CHEMICALS industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
ECL scores higher overall (53/100 vs 52/100). Both earn "Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Ashland Global Holdings Inc
BASIC MATERIALS · SPECIALTY CHEMICALS · USA
Ashland Global Holdings Inc. offers specialized chemical solutions globally. The company is headquartered in Covington, Kentucky.
Ecolab Inc
BASIC MATERIALS · SPECIALTY CHEMICALS · USA
Ecolab Inc., headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, is an American corporation that develops and offers services, technology and systems that specialize in water treatment, purification, cleaning and hygiene in a wide variety of applications. It helps organizations both private market as well as public treat their water, not only for drinking directly, but also for use in food, healthcare, hospitality related safety and industry.
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