Ecolab Inc (ECL)vsSeagate Technology PLC (STX)
ECL
Ecolab Inc
$255.59
-1.51%
BASIC MATERIALS · Cap: $73.29B
STX
Seagate Technology PLC
$771.01
+4.40%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $163.00B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Ecolab Inc generates 49% more annual revenue ($16.45B vs $11.01B). STX leads profitability with a 21.6% profit margin vs 12.8%. STX appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.50. STX earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 76/100 (B+).
ECL
Buy57
out of 100
Grade: C
STX
Strong Buy76
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 22 in profit
Growing faster than its price suggests
Strong operational efficiency at 35.7%
Revenue surging 44.1% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 108.3% YoY
Large-cap with strong market position
Keeps 22 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Weak financial health signals
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Trading at 367.1x book value
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : ECL
The strongest argument for ECL centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : STX
The strongest argument for STX centers on PEG Ratio, Operating Margin, Revenue Growth. Profitability is solid with margins at 21.6% and operating margin at 35.7%. Revenue growth of 44.1% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : ECL
The primary concerns for ECL are PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio, Piotroski F-Score.
Bear Case : STX
The primary concerns for STX are P/E Ratio, Price/Book. A P/E of 69.0x leaves little room for execution misses.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
ECL profiles as a value stock while STX is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
STX carries more volatility with a beta of 1.63 — expect wider price swings.
STX is growing revenue faster at 44.1% — sustainability is the question.
STX generates stronger free cash flow (953M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
STX scores higher overall (76/100 vs 57/100), backed by strong 21.6% margins and 44.1% 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.
Seagate Technology PLC
TECHNOLOGY · COMPUTER HARDWARE · USA
Seagate Technology Holdings plc, an Irish public limited company (commonly referred to as Seagate) is an American data storage company.
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