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Ecolab vs The Sherwin-Williams Company: Which Stock Looks Stronger in 2026?

The Sherwin-Williams Company leads structurally, with stability as the clearest single gap between the two profiles. The remaining gap is narrow enough that the comparison remains open to different readings. Both sides have seen trend damage — neither carries a clear market edge right now. With both trends damaged, the structural comparison carries most of the weight here.

The comparison is based on similar long-term financial trajectories, not sector labels.

Updated 2026-04-05

Stability remains the main source of distance in the comparison.

INDUSTRY COMPARISON

Both operate in: Specialty Chemicals

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

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

Peer-Relative Score
ECL
Ecolab Inc.
66
Peer-Score
Signal qualityHigh
vs
SHW
The Sherwin-Williams Company
72
Peer-Score
Signal qualityMedium

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

The largest gaps do not all point in the same direction.

Dimension spread: ECL vs SHW Profitability 84 81 Stability 65 82 Valuation 50 56 Growth 62 70 ECL SHW
Gap Ranking
#1 Stability +17
#2 Growth +8
#3 Valuation +6
#4 Profitability +3
Price Setup

Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.

Price setup map for ECL and SHW Stronger + cheaper Stronger + richer Weaker + cheaper Weaker + richer ECLSHW Relative valuation Structural strength

The setup remains mixed because the stronger profile and the more supportive price setup do not sit on the same side.

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

Relative Position vs Comparable Companies
Stability
Both rank well on stability, but The Sherwin-Williams Company still sits higher.
Growth
On growth, the same pattern holds: both rank well, but The Sherwin-Williams Company still sits higher.
Stability — Dominant Gap
ECL
65
SHW
82
Gap+17in favour of SHW

The clearest distance comes from a steadier profile over time.

What keeps the gap from being one-sided

Ecolab Inc. still shows lower market-fundamental divergence, which keeps the wider picture mixed rather than completely one-sided.

What this means for the comparison

The lead is clear, but a counterweight in one area stops it from looking dominant.

Explore full peer positioning in AssetNext

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

Explore full breakdown →
Similar stability-and-growth comparisons

Explore how ECL and SHW 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.

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.