Ecolab Inc (ECL)vsNucor Corp (NUE)
ECL
Ecolab Inc
$276.18
+1.69%
BASIC MATERIALS · Cap: $80.38B
NUE
Nucor Corp
$259.43
+1.55%
BASIC MATERIALS · Cap: $58.17B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Nucor Corp generates 114% more annual revenue ($36.10B vs $16.84B). ECL leads profitability with a 12.6% profit margin vs 8.0%. ECL appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.95. NUE earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 67/100 (B-).
ECL
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
NUE
Strong Buy67
out of 100
Grade: B-
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Large-cap with strong market position
Every $100 of equity generates 21 in profit
Earnings expanding 93.8% YoY
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Large-cap with strong market position
Reasonable price relative to book value
Revenue surging 23.0% year-over-year
Areas to Watch
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
3.3% earnings growth
Elevated debt levels
Weak financial health signals
8.0% margin — thin
Expensive relative to growth rate
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : ECL
The strongest argument for ECL centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : NUE
The strongest argument for NUE centers on EPS Growth, Altman Z-Score, Market Cap. Revenue growth of 23.0% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : ECL
The primary concerns for ECL are P/E Ratio, EPS Growth, Debt/Equity.
Bear Case : NUE
The primary concerns for NUE are Profit Margin, PEG Ratio.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
ECL profiles as a value stock while NUE is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
NUE carries more volatility with a beta of 1.88 — expect wider price swings.
NUE is growing revenue faster at 23.0% — sustainability is the question.
NUE generates stronger free cash flow (829M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
NUE scores higher overall (67/100 vs 53/100) and 23.0% revenue growth. Both earn "Strong 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.
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.
Nucor Corp
BASIC MATERIALS · STEEL · USA
Nucor Corporation is a producer of steel and related products based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Visit Website →Compare with Other SPECIALTY CHEMICALS Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?