Ecolab Inc (ECL)vsReliance Steel & Aluminum Co (RS)
ECL
Ecolab Inc
$292.41
+0.39%
BASIC MATERIALS · Cap: $80.98B
RS
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co
$437.18
+1.01%
BASIC MATERIALS · Cap: $20.99B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Ecolab Inc generates 7% more annual revenue ($16.84B vs $15.81B). ECL leads profitability with a 12.6% profit margin vs 5.7%. RS appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.29. RS earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 65/100 (C+).
ECL
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
RS
Buy65
out of 100
Grade: C+
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Large-cap with strong market position
Every $100 of equity generates 21 in profit
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Revenue surging 26.5% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 42.3% YoY
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Trading at 8.2x book value
3.3% earnings growth
Expensive relative to growth rate
5.7% margin — thin
Weak financial health signals
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : ECL
The strongest argument for ECL centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : RS
The strongest argument for RS centers on Altman Z-Score, Debt/Equity, Revenue Growth. Revenue growth of 26.5% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : ECL
The primary concerns for ECL are PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio, Price/Book.
Bear Case : RS
The primary concerns for RS are PEG Ratio, Profit Margin, Piotroski F-Score.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
ECL profiles as a value stock while RS is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
RS carries more volatility with a beta of 0.95 — expect wider price swings.
RS is growing revenue faster at 26.5% — sustainability is the question.
ECL generates stronger free cash flow (489M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
RS scores higher overall (65/100 vs 53/100) and 26.5% revenue growth. 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.
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.
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co
BASIC MATERIALS · STEEL · USA
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. is a metal service center company. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.
Visit Website →Compare with Other SPECIALTY CHEMICALS Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?