Ecolab Inc (ECL)vsWestern Digital Corporation (WDC)
ECL
Ecolab Inc
$255.59
-1.51%
BASIC MATERIALS · Cap: $73.29B
WDC
Western Digital Corporation
$442.36
+2.51%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $152.47B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Ecolab Inc generates 40% more annual revenue ($16.45B vs $11.78B). WDC leads profitability with a 55.3% profit margin vs 12.8%. WDC appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.87. WDC earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 79/100 (B+).
ECL
Buy57
out of 100
Grade: C
WDC
Strong Buy79
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
Every $100 of equity generates 86 in profit
Keeps 55 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 37.0%
Revenue surging 45.5% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 477.2% YoY
Large-cap with strong market position
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Weak financial health signals
Moderate valuation
Trading at 21.2x book value
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : ECL
The strongest argument for ECL centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : WDC
The strongest argument for WDC centers on Return on Equity, Profit Margin, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 55.3% and operating margin at 37.0%. Revenue growth of 45.5% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : ECL
The primary concerns for ECL are PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio, Piotroski F-Score.
Bear Case : WDC
The primary concerns for WDC are P/E Ratio, Price/Book.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
ECL profiles as a value stock while WDC is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
WDC carries more volatility with a beta of 2.16 — expect wider price swings.
WDC is growing revenue faster at 45.5% — sustainability is the question.
WDC generates stronger free cash flow (978M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
WDC scores higher overall (79/100 vs 57/100), backed by strong 55.3% margins and 45.5% 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.
Western Digital Corporation
TECHNOLOGY · COMPUTER HARDWARE · USA
Western Digital Corporation (WDC, commonly known as Western Digital or WD) is an American computer hard disk drive manufacturer and data storage company, headquartered in San Jose, California. It designs, manufactures and sells data technology products, including storage devices, data center systems and cloud storage services.
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