Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD) vs Ecolab Inc. (ECL)
A side-by-side comparison of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. and Ecolab Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of September 13, 2026. Differences are shown without an overall score or investment verdict.
APD
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
$291.43Basic MaterialsDelayed quote: Sep 11, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT
ECL
Ecolab Inc.
$276.18Basic MaterialsDelayed quote: Sep 11, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT
Total return — APD vs ECL
growth of $100 · dividends reinvested · last 10yAPD +174.1% (+10.6%/yr)ECL +151.6% (+9.7%/yr)APD compounded faster over this window
APD ECL
APD vs ECL: by the numbers
- •ECL is the larger company ($77.73B vs $64.90B market cap).
- •ECL is profitable (12.57% net margin) while APD runs a net loss (-0.38%).
- •ECL grew revenue faster over the past five years (6.78% vs 5.15% CAGR).
- •APD pays the higher dividend yield (2.47% vs 1.03%).
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | APD | ECL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | N/A | 37.07 |
| Forward P/E | 21.68 | 33.87 |
| P/S ratio | 5.15 | 4.61 |
| P/B ratio | 4.67 | 7.73 |
| EV / EBITDA | 86.32 | 23.64 |
| FCF yield | N/A | 2.41% |
Profitability
| Metric | APD | ECL |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 32.06% | 44.11% |
| Operating margin | -4.71% | 17.37% |
| Net margin | -0.38% | 12.57% |
| ROE | -0.34% | 21.05% |
| ROIC | -1.61% | 9.42% |
Dividends
| Metric | APD | ECL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 2.47% | 1.03% |
| Payout ratio | N/A | 38.12% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | APD | ECL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | 5.15% | 6.78% |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | N/A | 5.19% |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | N/A | 5.77% |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | 4.27% | 5.26% |
Frequently asked
- Which has grown faster, APD or ECL?
- Over the past five years, ECL grew revenue faster — APD at a 5.15% CAGR versus ECL at 6.78%.
- Does APD or ECL pay a bigger dividend?
- APD yields 2.47% and ECL yields 1.03% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- Is APD or ECL more profitable?
- ECL runs the higher net margin — APD at -0.38% versus ECL at 12.57%.
- How have APD and ECL total returns compared?
- Over the past 10 years, APD delivered 10.25% and ECL delivered 10.00% annualized total return. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Ecolab P/E ratioAir Products and Chemicals dividend yieldEcolab dividend yieldAir Products and Chemicals ROEEcolab ROEAir Products and Chemicals operating marginEcolab operating marginAir Products and Chemicals revenue growthEcolab revenue growthAir Products and Chemicals free cash flowEcolab free cash flow
Air Products and Chemicals & Ecolab appear in these rankings
Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified September 13, 2026.