Dow Inc. (DOW) vs Ecolab Inc. (ECL)
ECL leads on 10 of 14 compared metrics.
A side-by-side comparison of Dow Inc. and Ecolab Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 15, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).
Total return — DOW vs ECL
growth of $100 · last 7yDOW -33.7%ECL +53.4%ECL compounded faster
DOW ECL
DOW vs ECL: by the numbers
- •ECL is the larger company ($75.59B vs $23.81B market cap).
- •ECL is profitable (12.80% net margin) while DOW runs a net loss (-7.02%).
- •ECL grew revenue faster over the past five years (7.14% vs -0.66% CAGR).
- •DOW pays the higher dividend yield (4.14% vs 1.03%).
Which is better, DOW or ECL?
Metric tally: DOW 4 · ECL 10It depends on what you're optimizing for:
GrowthECL(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
IncomeDOW(higher dividend yield)
QualityECL(higher ROIC)
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | DOW | ECL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | — | 36.34 |
| Forward P/E | 10.56● | 32.31 |
| P/S ratio | 0.62● | 4.63 |
| P/B ratio | 1.60● | 7.62 |
| PEG ratio | — | 7.00 |
| EV / EBITDA | 47.54 | 25.87● |
| FCF yield | — | 2.45% |
Profitability
| Metric | DOW | ECL |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 6.16% | 44.29%● |
| Operating margin | -2.31% | 17.49%● |
| Net margin | -7.02% | 12.80%● |
| ROE | -18.11% | 21.05%● |
| ROIC | 0.51% | 11.95%● |
Dividends
| Metric | DOW | ECL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 4.14%● | 1.03% |
| Payout ratio | — | 37.65% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | DOW | ECL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | -0.66% | 7.14%● |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | -20.06% | 5.19%● |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | -24.60% | 6.68%● |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | -8.41% | 5.67%● |
Frequently asked
- Which is better, DOW or ECL?
- It depends on your goal. growth: ECL (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: DOW (higher dividend yield); quality: ECL (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, ECL leads 10 to 4.
- Which has grown faster, DOW or ECL?
- Over the past five years, ECL grew revenue faster — DOW at a -0.66% CAGR versus ECL at 7.14%.
- Does DOW or ECL pay a bigger dividend?
- DOW yields 4.14% and ECL yields 1.03% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- Is DOW or ECL more profitable?
- ECL runs the higher net margin — DOW at -7.02% versus ECL at 12.80%.
- Which has been the better investment, DOW or ECL?
- Over the past 5-year, ECL delivered the higher annualized total return — DOW at -8.41% versus ECL at 9.71%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Dow P/E ratioEcolab P/E ratioDow dividend yieldEcolab dividend yieldDow ROEEcolab ROEDow operating marginEcolab operating marginDow revenue growthEcolab revenue growthDow free cash flowEcolab free cash flow
Dow & 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 June 15, 2026.