WallStSmart

Ashland Global Holdings Inc (ASH)vsEcolab Inc (ECL)

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Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Ecolab Inc generates 843% more annual revenue ($17.37B vs $1.84B). ECL leads profitability with a 12.0% profit margin vs 2.8%. ASH appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.23. ECL earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 53/100 (C-).

ASH

Buy

52

out of 100

Grade: C-

Growth: 3.3Profit: 4.0Value: 4.0Quality: 6.8
Piotroski: 6/9

ECL

Buy

53

out of 100

Grade: C-

Growth: 4.0Profit: 7.0Value: 4.3Quality: 5.0
Piotroski: 3/9Altman Z: 2.17
IV

Intrinsic Value Comparison

Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula

ASHSignificantly Overvalued (-84.3%)

Margin of Safety

-84.3%

Fair Value

$33.87

Current Price

$76.62

$42.75 premium

UndervaluedFair: $33.87Overvalued

Intrinsic value data unavailable for ECL.

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

ASH1 strengths · Avg: 8.0/10
Price/BookValuation
1.9x8/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

ECL1 strengths · Avg: 9.0/10
Market CapQuality
$84.98B9/10

Large-cap with strong market position

Areas to Watch

ASH4 concerns · Avg: 2.3/10
Profit MarginProfitability
2.8%3/10

2.8% margin — thin

P/E RatioValuation
47.7x2/10

Premium valuation, high expectations priced in

Return on EquityProfitability
-31.0%2/10

ROE of -31.0% — below average capital efficiency

EPS GrowthGrowth
-47.5%2/10

Earnings declined 47.5%

ECL4 concerns · Avg: 3.5/10
PEG RatioValuation
2.414/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

Price/BookValuation
8.1x4/10

Trading at 8.1x book value

Debt/EquityHealth
1.323/10

Elevated debt levels

Piotroski F-ScoreQuality
3/93/10

Weak financial health signals

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull Case : ASH

The strongest argument for ASH centers on Price/Book. PEG of 1.23 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.

Bull Case : ECL

The strongest argument for ECL centers on Market Cap. Revenue growth of 12.7% demonstrates continued momentum.

Bear Case : ASH

The primary concerns for ASH are Profit Margin, P/E Ratio, Return on Equity. A P/E of 47.7x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 2.8% margins leave little buffer for downturns.

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.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

ECL carries more volatility with a beta of 0.88 — expect wider price swings.

ECL is growing revenue faster at 12.7% — sustainability is the question.

ECL generates stronger free cash flow (450M), providing more financial flexibility.

Monitor SPECIALTY CHEMICALS industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.

Bottom Line

ECL scores higher overall (53/100 vs 52/100) and 12.7% revenue growth. Both earn "Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.

This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.

Ashland Global Holdings Inc

BASIC MATERIALS · SPECIALTY CHEMICALS · USA

Ashland Global Holdings Inc. offers specialized chemical solutions globally. The company is headquartered in Covington, Kentucky.

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.

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