Ecolab Inc (ECL)vsWorthington Steel Inc (WS)
ECL
Ecolab Inc
$285.17
+0.60%
BASIC MATERIALS · Cap: $79.69B
WS
Worthington Steel Inc
$38.26
+3.29%
BASIC MATERIALS · Cap: $1.83B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Ecolab Inc generates 389% more annual revenue ($16.84B vs $3.44B). ECL leads profitability with a 12.6% profit margin vs 0.3%. ECL trades at a lower P/E of 37.5x. ECL earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 53/100 (C-).
ECL
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
WS
Hold42
out of 100
Grade: D
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Large-cap with strong market position
Every $100 of equity generates 21 in profit
Reasonable price relative to book value
Areas to Watch
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
3.3% earnings growth
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
Smaller company, higher risk/reward
0.3% margin — thin
Weak financial health signals
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : ECL
The strongest argument for ECL centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity.
Bull Case : WS
The strongest argument for WS centers on Price/Book. Revenue growth of 11.6% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : ECL
The primary concerns for ECL are P/E Ratio, EPS Growth, Piotroski F-Score.
Bear Case : WS
The primary concerns for WS are Market Cap, Profit Margin, Piotroski F-Score. A P/E of 211.8x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 0.3% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
WS carries more volatility with a beta of 2.32 — expect wider price swings.
WS is growing revenue faster at 11.6% — sustainability is the question.
ECL generates stronger free cash flow (97M), providing more financial flexibility.
Monitor SPECIALTY CHEMICALS industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
ECL scores higher overall (53/100 vs 42/100). Both earn "Buy" and "Hold" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
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.
Worthington Steel Inc
BASIC MATERIALS · STEEL · USA
Worthington Steel, Inc. is a steel processor in North America. The company is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.
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