Ecolab Inc (ECL)vsPNC Financial Services Group Inc (PNC)
ECL
Ecolab Inc
$268.54
+1.53%
BASIC MATERIALS · Cap: $74.91B
PNC
PNC Financial Services Group Inc
$205.95
-0.19%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $83.43B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
PNC Financial Services Group Inc generates 39% more annual revenue ($22.32B vs $16.08B). PNC leads profitability with a 31.1% profit margin vs 12.9%. PNC appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.17. PNC earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 73/100 (B).
ECL
Buy55
out of 100
Grade: C-
PNC
Strong Buy73
out of 100
Grade: B
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-142.8%
Fair Value
$125.04
Current Price
$268.54
$143.50 premium
Margin of Safety
+73.5%
Fair Value
$776.41
Current Price
$205.95
$570.46 discount
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Large-cap with strong market position
Every $100 of equity generates 23 in profit
17.8% revenue growth
Reasonable price relative to book value
Keeps 31 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 39.3%
Large-cap with strong market position
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Earnings expanding 29.1% YoY
Areas to Watch
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Trading at 11.4x book value
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
Expensive relative to growth rate
Distress zone — elevated risk
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : ECL
The strongest argument for ECL centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, Revenue Growth. Revenue growth of 17.8% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull Case : PNC
The strongest argument for PNC centers on Price/Book, Profit Margin, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 31.1% and operating margin at 39.3%.
Bear Case : ECL
The primary concerns for ECL are P/E Ratio, Price/Book, Piotroski F-Score.
Bear Case : PNC
The primary concerns for PNC are PEG Ratio, Altman Z-Score.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
ECL profiles as a growth stock while PNC is a mature play — different risk/reward profiles.
ECL carries more volatility with a beta of 0.98 — expect wider price swings.
ECL is growing revenue faster at 17.8% — sustainability is the question.
PNC generates stronger free cash flow (2.3B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
PNC scores higher overall (73/100 vs 55/100), backed by strong 31.1% margins. 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.
PNC Financial Services Group Inc
FINANCIAL SERVICES · BANKS - REGIONAL · USA
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (stylized as PNC) is a bank holding company and financial services corporation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its banking subsidiary, PNC Bank, operates in 21 states and the District of Columbia with 2,296 branches and 9,051 ATMs. The company also provides financial services such as asset management, wealth management, estate planning, loan servicing, and information processing.
Visit Website →Compare with Other SPECIALTY CHEMICALS Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?