Ecolab [ECL] vs Linde plc [LIN] Detailed Stock Comparison

Ecolab Inc.

NYSE
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Linde plc

NASDAQ
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TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary

Based on 21 vital metrics comparison: Ecolab Inc. wins in 6 metrics, Linde plc wins in 15 metrics, with 0 ties. Linde plc appears stronger overall.

View Metrics Details

Vital Metrics Comparison

Metric Ecolab Inc. Linde plc Better
P/E Ratio (TTM) 37.15 34.73 Linde plc
Price-to-Book Ratio 7.82 6.16 Linde plc
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 91.77 70.63 Linde plc
PEG Ratio 1.88 26.03 Ecolab Inc.
EV/EBITDA 21.58 19.48 Linde plc
Profit Margin (TTM) 12.91% 20.30% Linde plc
Operating Margin (TTM) 19.05% 28.17% Linde plc
EBITDA Margin (TTM) 19.05% 28.17% Linde plc
Return on Equity 22.52% 17.82% Ecolab Inc.
Return on Assets (TTM) 7.84% 7.17% Ecolab Inc.
Free Cash Flow (TTM) $1.90B $5.09B Linde plc
Dividend Yield 1.07% 1.49% Linde plc
1-Year Return 0.45% 12.36% Linde plc
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) 4.76 6.93 Ecolab Inc.
Enterprise Value $84.75B $259.94B Linde plc
EV/Revenue Ratio 5.27 7.65 Ecolab Inc.
Gross Profit Margin (TTM) 44.03% 48.12% Linde plc
Revenue per Share (TTM) $57 $72 Linde plc
Earnings per Share (Diluted) $7.29 $14.63 Linde plc
Beta (Stock Volatility) 1.02 0.79 Linde plc
Short % of Float 1.20% 1.53% Ecolab Inc.

Ecolab Inc. vs Linde plc Stock Performance Analysis

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ECL
LIN

Performance Comparison

Short-term Returns

Stock1D1W1M3M6MYTD
Ecolab Inc.1.19%4.34%8.46%-1.66%2.86%2.26%
Linde plc-0.40%3.90%3.04%4.84%25.06%21.53%

Long-term Returns

Stock1Y3Y5Y10Y15Y20Y
Ecolab Inc.0.45%45.80%29.46%123.79%391.96%586.17%
Linde plc12.36%39.51%85.65%367.06%418.08%891.80%

Performance & Financial Health Analysis: Ecolab Inc. vs Linde plc

MetricECLLIN
Market Information
Market Cap i$76.66B$236.47B
Market Cap CategoryLarge capMega cap
10 Day Avg. Volume i1,378,2031,804,155
90 Day Avg. Volume i1,552,2342,343,675
Last Close$268.58$521.48
52 Week Range$243.15 - $309.27$387.78 - $525.87
% from 52W High-13.16%-0.83%
All-Time High$309.27 (Feb 24, 2026)$525.87 (Jun 15, 2026)
% from All-Time High-13.16%-0.83%
Growth Metrics
Quarterly Revenue Growth0.05%0.06%
Quarterly Earnings Growth0.19%-0.11%
Financial Health
Profit Margin (TTM) i0.13%0.20%
Operating Margin (TTM) i0.19%0.28%
Return on Equity (TTM) i0.23%0.18%
Debt to Equity (MRQ) i91.7770.63
Cash & Liquidity
Book Value per Share (MRQ)$34.65$82.48
Cash per Share (MRQ)$2.29$10.91
Operating Cash Flow (TTM) i$2.95B$10.35B
Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) i$1.64B$4.79B
Dividends
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i1.07%1.49%
Last 12-Month Dividend i$2.76$7.60

Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: Ecolab Inc. vs Linde plc

MetricECL (Apr 24, 2026)LIN (Apr 26, 2026)
Price Ratios
P/E Ratio (TTM) i37.1534.73
Forward P/E i28.0026.03
PEG Ratio i1.8826.03
Price to Sales (TTM) i4.766.93
Price to Book (MRQ) i7.826.16
Market Capitalization
Market Capitalization i$76.66B$236.47B
Enterprise Value i$84.75B$259.94B
Enterprise Value Metrics
Enterprise to Revenue i5.277.65
Enterprise to EBITDA i21.5819.48
Risk & Other Metrics
Beta i1.020.79
Book Value per Share (MRQ) i$34.65$82.48

Financial Statements Comparison: Ecolab Inc. vs Linde plc

Financial Metrics

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Revenue

Operating Margin

Profit Margin

Long Term Debt

Income Flow Analysis

Financial Statements Comparison

Income Statement

MetricECL (2025)LIN (2025)
Revenue/Sales i16.08B33.99B
Cost of Goods Sold i8.93B17.39B
COGS % of Revenue i55.5%51.2%
Gross Profit i7.15B16.60B
Gross Margin i44.5%48.8%
Research & Development iN/A147.00M
Operating Income (EBIT) i2.89B9.25B
Operating Margin i18.0%27.2%
EBITDA i3.99B13.55B
EBITDA Margin i24.8%39.9%
Pre-Tax Income i2.55B8.90B
Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue i15.8%26.2%
Income Tax i454.60M1.99B
Income Tax % of Revenue i2.8%5.9%
Net Income (Profit) i2.09B7.06B
Profit Margin i13.0%20.8%

Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics

MetricECL (2025)LIN (2025)
Cash & Equivalents i646.20M5.06B
Total Current Assets i5.96B13.33B
Total Current Assets % of Revenue i37.0%39.2%
Total Current Liabilities i5.53B15.20B
Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue i34.4%44.7%
Long-Term Debt i7.96B21.50B
Long-Term Debt % of Revenue i49.5%63.3%
Total Shareholders Equity i9.80B39.74B
Retained Earnings i12.83B16.61B
Retained Earnings % of Revenue i79.8%48.9%
Property, Plant & Equipment i3.96B12.84B

Cash Flow Statement Comparison

MetricECL (2025)LIN (2025)
Operating Cash Flow i2.94B10.44B
Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue i18.3%30.7%
Capital Expenditures i52.30MN/A
Free Cash Flow i1.90B5.09B
FCF Margin i11.8%15.0%
Debt Repayment i-674.20M-2.28B
Common Stock Repurchase i-783.80M-4.60B

Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis

MetricECLLIN
Shares Short i2.98M7.08M
Short Ratio i1.732.61
Short % of Float i1.20%1.53%
Shares Outstanding i282.02M463.68M
Float Shares i281.38M461.73M
% Held by Insiders i0.15%0.26%
% Held by Institutions i94.35%87.78%
% Held by Public i5.50%11.96%

Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: Ecolab Inc. vs Linde plc

MetricECLLIN
Last 12-Month Dividend i$2.76$7.60
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i1.07%1.49%
3-Year Avg Annual Dividend i$2.47$6.08
3-Year Avg Dividend Yield i0.27%0.33%
3-Year Total Dividends i$7.40$18.24
Ex-Dividend DateMar 17, 2026Mar 11, 2026