Ecolab Inc. (ECL) Return on Invested Capital (ROIC): 11.95%
Is Ecolab Inc.’s return on invested capital (ROIC) high or low?
Ecolab Inc.'s return on invested capital (ROIC) of 11.95% is 25% above its 5-year average of 9.59%, near the high end of its 5-year range (7.44%–11.95%).
The return on invested capital (ROIC) for Ecolab Inc. (ECL) is 11.95% as of Wednesday, June 10, 2026. It is above its 12-month average by 0.63% (11.88%).
ECL Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) Chart
ECL Average Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) Chart
ECL Current vs Average Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) Chart
ECL Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) Metrics
RETURN ON INVESTED CAPITAL (ROIC)
11.95%
RETURN ON INVESTED CAPITAL (ROIC) AVG TTM
11.88%
RETURN ON INVESTED CAPITAL (ROIC) AVG 3Y
10.14%
RETURN ON INVESTED CAPITAL (ROIC) AVG 5Y
9.59%
RETURN ON INVESTED CAPITAL (ROIC) AVG 10Y
9.63%
RETURN ON INVESTED CAPITAL (ROIC) AVG 15Y
9.31%
RETURN ON INVESTED CAPITAL (ROIC) AVG 20Y
10.13%
CURRENT VS TTM AVG
+0.63%
CURRENT VS 3Y AVG
+17.79%
CURRENT VS 5Y AVG
+24.63%
CURRENT VS 10Y AVG
+24.13%
CURRENT VS 15Y AVG
+28.42%
CURRENT VS 20Y AVG
+17.99%
ECL Competitors' Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)
| NAME | MARKET CAP | RETURN ON INVESTED CAPITAL (ROIC) | TTM | 3Y | 5Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ecolab Inc. (ECL) | — | 11.95% | 11.88% | 10.14% | 9.59% |
| The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) | $76.59B | 15.21% | 15.30% | 14.71% | 14.42% |
| Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD) | $63.01B | -1.82% | 4.05% | 5.72% | 6.36% |
| Nucor Corporation (NUE) | $57.92B | 6.74% | 7.30% | 14.93% | 15.58% |
| Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) | $92.36B | 7.77% | 8.29% | 8.87% | 8.45% |
| Newmont Corporation (NEM) | $105.20B | 12.23% | 10.17% | -2.70% | -0.68% |
| Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) | $36.20B | 8.02% | 7.30% | 6.97% | 6.71% |
| DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (DD) | $19.29B | 2.18% | 2.86% | 3.62% | 3.63% |
| Alcoa Corporation (AA) | $19.11B | 7.84% | 4.37% | 2.33% | 3.07% |
| United States Steel Corporation (X) | $12.42B | 1.24% | 5.50% | 14.46% | 8.82% |
Capital Efficiency
ROIC
11.9%
ROE
21.2%
Ecolab Inc. Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) Formula & Definition
ROIC = NOPAT / Invested Capital
Return on invested capital measures the after-tax return a company earns on all capital (debt and equity) invested in the business.
Expanded definitions: Investopedia, Wikipedia, Corporate Finance Institute
Ecolab Inc. Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) FAQ
- What is the return on invested capital (ROIC) for Ecolab Inc. (ECL)?
- The return on invested capital (ROIC) for ECL stock is 11.95%.
- Is Ecolab Inc.'s return on invested capital (ROIC) high or low?
- Ecolab Inc.'s return on invested capital (ROIC) of 11.95% is 25% above its 5-year average of 9.59%, near the high end of its 5-year range (7.44%–11.95%).
- What is the TTM average return on invested capital (ROIC) for Ecolab Inc. (ECL)?
- The TTM average return on invested capital (ROIC) for ECL stock is 11.88%.
- What is the 3Y average return on invested capital (ROIC) for Ecolab Inc. (ECL)?
- The 3Y average return on invested capital (ROIC) for ECL stock is 10.14%.
- What is the 5Y average return on invested capital (ROIC) for Ecolab Inc. (ECL)?
- The 5Y average return on invested capital (ROIC) for ECL stock is 9.59%.
- What is the 10Y average return on invested capital (ROIC) for Ecolab Inc. (ECL)?
- The 10Y average return on invested capital (ROIC) for ECL stock is 9.63%.
- What is the 15Y average return on invested capital (ROIC) for Ecolab Inc. (ECL)?
- The 15Y average return on invested capital (ROIC) for ECL stock is 9.31%.
- What is the 20Y average return on invested capital (ROIC) for Ecolab Inc. (ECL)?
- The 20Y average return on invested capital (ROIC) for ECL stock is 10.13%.
Ecolab Inc. Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) History
| DATE | RETURN ON INVESTED CAPITAL (ROIC) |
|---|---|
| 2025-12-31 | 11.95% |
| 2024-12-31 | 11.80% |
| 2023-12-31 | 9.39% |
| 2022-12-31 | 7.44% |
| 2021-12-31 | 7.50% |
| 2020-12-31 | 9.45% |
| 2019-12-31 | 8.96% |
| 2018-12-31 | 9.23% |
| 2017-12-31 | 11.09% |
| 2016-12-31 | 9.57% |
| 2015-12-31 | 9.52% |
| 2014-12-31 | 8.67% |
| 2013-12-31 | 7.84% |
| 2012-12-31 | 6.90% |
| 2011-12-31 | 3.93% |
| 2010-12-31 | 15.65% |
| 2009-12-31 | 13.10% |
| 2008-12-31 | 13.91% |
| 2007-12-31 | 13.20% |
| 2006-12-31 | 11.60% |
| 2005-12-31 | 11.98% |
| 2004-12-31 | 11.10% |
| 2003-12-31 | 12.20% |
| 2002-12-31 | 10.97% |
| 2001-12-31 | 9.80% |
| 2000-12-31 | 15.08% |
| 1999-12-31 | 14.54% |
| 1998-12-31 | 13.86% |
| 1997-12-31 | 12.59% |
| 1996-12-31 | 12.56% |
Related Metrics
About Ecolab Inc.
Ecolab Inc. delivers essential water, hygiene, and infection prevention products and services to clients across the United States and globally. The company organizes its operations into several key segments: Global Industrial, Global Institutional & Specialty, Global Healthcare & Life Sciences, and an "Other" segment. Through its Global Industrial division, Ecolab furnishes a range of water treatment, process applications, and cleaning and sanitizing solutions. These offerings cater to a diverse array of sectors including manufacturing, food and beverage processing, transportation, chemical production, metals and mining, power generation, pulp and paper, commercial laundries, and the petroleum, refining, and petrochemical industries. The Global Institutional & Specialty segment focuses on delivering specialized cleaning and sanitizing products primarily to the foodservice, hospitality, lodging, government and education, and retail sectors. Ecolab's Global Healthcare & Life Sciences segment addresses the needs of the healthcare, personal care, and pharmaceutical industries. It supplies specialized cleaning and sanitizing products, encompassing infection prevention, surgical solutions, and comprehensive cleaning and contamination control, marketed under brand names like Ecolab, Microtek, and Anios. Within the "Other" segment, Ecolab provides pest elimination services. These services aim to detect, eliminate, and prevent pests, including rodents and insects, for various clients such as restaurants, food and beverage processors, educational and healthcare institutions, hotels, quick service restaurants, grocery stores, and other commercial and institutional entities. This segment additionally furnishes colloidal silica, used for binding and polishing applications in the semiconductor, catalyst, aerospace component manufacturing, and chemical sectors. Furthermore, it delivers products and services for comprehensive wash process management, featuring custom-designed programs, premium products, dispensing equipment, water and energy conservation, and real-time data management. Ecolab distributes its offerings via its field sales and corporate account teams, as well as through a network of distributors and dealers. Established in 1923, the company maintains its headquarters in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
- Sector
- Basic Materials
- Industry
- Chemicals - Specialty
- CEO
- Christophe Beck