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Ecolab vs RPM International: Which Stock Looks Stronger in 2026?

RPM International leads structurally, with valuation as the clearest single gap between the two profiles. Ecolab still has the edge on growth, which keeps the comparison from looking entirely one-sided. The market setup is currently leaning toward Ecolab, which does not confirm the structural lead. That leaves a split case: the structural lead stays with RPM International, but the market is not currently confirming it.

The comparison is based on similar long-term financial trajectories, not sector labels. Both peer scores are relative to the Russell 1000 universe, making them directly comparable.

Updated 2026-07-05

The comparison is mainly decided in valuation, with the rest of the profile carrying less weight.

INDUSTRY COMPARISON

Both operate in: Specialty Chemicals

This comparison is based on industry proximity, not on functional trajectory similarity. ECL and RPM share the same industry classification.

For a similarity-based comparison, see how Ecolab and RPM International each position within their functional peer groups in AssetNext.

Peer-Relative Score
ECL
Ecolab Inc.
61
Peer-Score
Signal qualitylow
Peer basis: Russell 1000
vs
RPM
RPM International Inc.
67
Peer-Score
Signal qualityMedium
Peer basis: Russell 1000

Scores reflect position relative to comparable companies with similar long-term financial trajectories.

Pricing shapes this comparison more than a broad operating gap.

Dimension spread: ECL vs RPM Profitability 52 55 Stability 64 58 Valuation 48 84 Growth 92 68 ECL RPM
Gap Ranking
#1 Valuation +36
#2 Growth +24
#3 Stability +6
#4 Profitability +3
Price Setup

Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.

Price setup map for ECL and RPM Stronger + cheaper Stronger + richer Weaker + cheaper Weaker + richer ECLRPM Relative valuation Structural strength

Ecolab Inc. still looks stronger overall, though current pricing looks more supportive for RPM International Inc..

Valuation position uses peer-relative PE percentile (idx_pct_pe) where available.

Entry today — historical context

Where ECL and RPM each sit in their own 5-year price and valuation history.

BASED ON 5-YEAR HISTORY ECL Elevated · near norm 0th 50th 100th 19 pct gap RPM Elevated · below norm 0th 50th 100th 98th 79th
Today RPM sits in the upper portion of its own 5-year history (79th percentile), while ECL sits higher in its own history (98th). Within each stock's own 5-year context, RPM is at a historically more favourable entry position than ECL. This reflects entry timing, not which company is structurally stronger — peer-relative analysis is a separate question addressed above.

Describes historical entry positioning only. Descriptive — not investment advice.

Relative Position vs Comparable Companies
Valuation
Both rank well on valuation, but RPM International Inc. still holds a clear edge.
Growth
On growth, the same pattern holds: both rank well, but Ecolab Inc. still sits higher.
Valuation — Dominant Gap
ECL
48
RPM
84
Gap+36in favour of RPM

The multiple-based pricing edge comes from a forward P/E that is 10.8 turns lower.

What keeps the gap from being one-sided

Growth still leans toward Ecolab Inc., so the lead is real without reading as one-way.

What this means for the comparison

The main read on valuation is clearer than the broader score gap.

Explore full peer positioning in AssetNext

Break down the ECL vs RPM comparison across all dimensions with the full interactive tool.

Explore full breakdown →
Other comparisons with conflicting dimension signals

Explore how ECL and RPM each compare against other companies in their peer groups.

Rule-based, descriptive analysis only. Derived from peer percentile dimensions. Not investment advice. Peer groups are determined algorithmically based on structural similarity — not by sector classification alone.

How AssetNext Peer Scores Work

AssetNext scores reflect each company's structural position within its functional peer group — not a ranking against all stocks simultaneously. Peers are identified by similarity across eight financial dimensions, including revenue growth trajectory, margin structure, capital intensity, and earnings stability. A score of 75 means the company ranks in the top quartile within its own peer group, not the entire market.

Four dimension scores drive the overall peer score: Growth (revenue trajectory and expansion dynamics), Quality (margin structure and capital efficiency), Valuation (peer-relative pricing on standard multiples), and Stability (earnings consistency and financial predictability). Each dimension is scored 0–100 relative to the peer group, then combined into an overall peer score using equal weighting.

Because scores are peer-relative, the same company can have slightly different scores in different index universes. On comparison pages, both companies are shown within their shared peer universe wherever possible — so the scores are directly comparable. The peer basis is stated on each score card.

Scores are recalculated periodically as underlying financial data is updated. All analysis is descriptive and rule-based — AssetNext describes structural realities and never issues buy, sell or hold recommendations.