Ecolab Inc (ECL)vsWorthington Steel Inc (WS)
ECL
Ecolab Inc
$304.41
-1.12%
BASIC MATERIALS · Cap: $84.98B
WS
Worthington Steel Inc
$38.54
-2.33%
BASIC MATERIALS · Cap: $2.02B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Ecolab Inc generates 228% more annual revenue ($17.37B vs $5.30B). ECL leads profitability with a 12.0% profit margin vs -0.7%. ECL earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 53/100 (C-).
ECL
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
WS
Hold45
out of 100
Grade: D
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Intrinsic value data unavailable for ECL.
Margin of Safety
-81.0%
Fair Value
$26.76
Current Price
$38.54
$11.78 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Large-cap with strong market position
Revenue surging 212.4% year-over-year
Reasonable price relative to book value
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Trading at 8.2x book value
Elevated debt levels
Weak financial health signals
Operating margin of 3.2%
Weak financial health signals
Earnings declined 25.9%
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : ECL
The strongest argument for ECL centers on Market Cap. Revenue growth of 12.7% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull Case : WS
The strongest argument for WS centers on Revenue Growth, Price/Book. Revenue growth of 212.4% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : ECL
The primary concerns for ECL are PEG Ratio, Price/Book, Debt/Equity. A P/E of 41.2x leaves little room for execution misses.
Bear Case : WS
The primary concerns for WS are Operating Margin, Piotroski F-Score, EPS Growth. Debt-to-equity of 2.50 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
ECL profiles as a value stock while WS is a hypergrowth play — different risk/reward profiles.
WS carries more volatility with a beta of 2.10 — expect wider price swings.
WS is growing revenue faster at 212.4% — sustainability is the question.
ECL generates stronger free cash flow (450M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
ECL scores higher overall (53/100 vs 45/100) and 12.7% revenue growth. Both earn "Buy" and "Hold" 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.
Worthington Steel Inc
BASIC MATERIALS · STEEL · USA
Worthington Steel, Inc. is a steel processor in North America. The company is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.
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