Ecolab Inc. (ECL) Return on Equity (ROE): 21.05%
Is Ecolab Inc.’s return on equity (ROE) high or low?
Ecolab Inc.'s return on equity (ROE) of 21.05% is 72% above its 5-year average of 12.27%, near the high end of its 5-year range (-19.54%–24.12%).
The return on equity (ROE) for Ecolab Inc. (ECL) is 21.05% as of Wednesday, June 10, 2026. It is below its 12-month average by 7.19% (22.68%).
ECL Return on Equity (ROE) Chart
ECL Average Return on Equity (ROE) Chart
ECL Current vs Average Return on Equity (ROE) Chart
ECL Return on Equity (ROE) Metrics
RETURN ON EQUITY (ROE)
21.05%
RETURN ON EQUITY (ROE) AVG TTM
22.68%
RETURN ON EQUITY (ROE) AVG 3Y
19.38%
RETURN ON EQUITY (ROE) AVG 5Y
12.27%
RETURN ON EQUITY (ROE) AVG 10Y
14.68%
RETURN ON EQUITY (ROE) AVG 15Y
14.74%
RETURN ON EQUITY (ROE) AVG 20Y
16.60%
CURRENT VS TTM AVG
-7.19%
CURRENT VS 3Y AVG
+8.63%
CURRENT VS 5Y AVG
+71.58%
CURRENT VS 10Y AVG
+43.38%
CURRENT VS 15Y AVG
+42.86%
CURRENT VS 20Y AVG
+26.84%
ECL Competitors' Return on Equity (ROE)
| NAME | MARKET CAP | RETURN ON EQUITY (ROE) | TTM | 3Y | 5Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ecolab Inc. (ECL) | $72.33B | 21.05% | 22.68% | 19.38% | 12.27% |
| The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) | $74.96B | 58.66% | 61.02% | 62.87% | 64.03% |
| Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD) | $61.57B | 13.47% | 9.92% | 13.27% | 14.03% |
| Nucor Corporation (NUE) | $57.05B | 10.87% | 9.16% | 20.31% | 22.77% |
| Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) | $89.24B | 14.01% | 11.19% | 13.91% | 15.38% |
| Newmont Corporation (NEM) | $99.04B | 24.21% | 16.05% | 5.26% | 6.44% |
| Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) | $35.38B | 13.22% | 11.96% | 11.17% | 10.77% |
| International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) | $18.95B | 6.03% | -0.40% | -7.24% | -3.65% |
| DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (DD) | $18.47B | -0.21% | -1.29% | 5.31% | 6.34% |
| Alcoa Corporation (AA) | $17.30B | 15.15% | 9.96% | 0.55% | 1.04% |
Return Analysis
ROE
21.1%
ROA
8.4%
Ecolab Inc. Return on Equity (ROE) Formula & Definition
ROE = Net Income / Total Shareholders' Equity
Return on equity measures how efficiently a company generates profit from shareholders' equity. Higher ROE indicates better capital efficiency.
Expanded definitions: Investopedia, Wikipedia, Corporate Finance Institute
Ecolab Inc. Return on Equity (ROE) FAQ
- What is the return on equity (ROE) for Ecolab Inc. (ECL)?
- The return on equity (ROE) for ECL stock is 21.05%.
- Is Ecolab Inc.'s return on equity (ROE) high or low?
- Ecolab Inc.'s return on equity (ROE) of 21.05% is 72% above its 5-year average of 12.27%, near the high end of its 5-year range (-19.54%–24.12%).
- What is the TTM average return on equity (ROE) for Ecolab Inc. (ECL)?
- The TTM average return on equity (ROE) for ECL stock is 22.68%.
- What is the 3Y average return on equity (ROE) for Ecolab Inc. (ECL)?
- The 3Y average return on equity (ROE) for ECL stock is 19.38%.
- What is the 5Y average return on equity (ROE) for Ecolab Inc. (ECL)?
- The 5Y average return on equity (ROE) for ECL stock is 12.27%.
- What is the 10Y average return on equity (ROE) for Ecolab Inc. (ECL)?
- The 10Y average return on equity (ROE) for ECL stock is 14.68%.
- What is the 15Y average return on equity (ROE) for Ecolab Inc. (ECL)?
- The 15Y average return on equity (ROE) for ECL stock is 14.74%.
- What is the 20Y average return on equity (ROE) for Ecolab Inc. (ECL)?
- The 20Y average return on equity (ROE) for ECL stock is 16.60%.
Ecolab Inc. Return on Equity (ROE) History
| DATE | RETURN ON EQUITY (ROE) |
|---|---|
| 2025-12-31 | 21.24% |
| 2024-12-31 | 24.12% |
| 2023-12-31 | 17.06% |
| 2022-12-31 | 15.09% |
| 2021-12-31 | 15.64% |
| 2020-12-31 | -19.54% |
| 2019-12-31 | 17.95% |
| 2018-12-31 | 17.86% |
| 2017-12-31 | 19.75% |
| 2016-12-31 | 17.82% |
| 2015-12-31 | 14.50% |
| 2014-12-31 | 16.44% |
| 2013-12-31 | 13.18% |
| 2012-12-31 | 11.58% |
| 2011-12-31 | 8.16% |
| 2010-12-31 | 24.91% |
| 2009-12-31 | 20.86% |
| 2008-12-31 | 28.51% |
| 2007-12-31 | 22.07% |
| 2006-12-31 | 21.94% |
| 2005-12-31 | 19.37% |
| 2004-12-31 | 18.09% |
| 2003-12-31 | 21.41% |
| 2002-12-31 | 19.07% |
| 2001-12-31 | 21.37% |
| 2000-12-31 | 27.23% |
| 1999-12-31 | 23.07% |
| 1998-12-31 | 27.88% |
| 1997-12-31 | 24.29% |
| 1996-12-31 | 21.77% |
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