S&P 500 comparison · Materials

Albemarle Corporation vs Ecolab

Prices at close . Model readings .

Albemarle Corporation

$96.96−2.02%
Month: negativeLong run: negative

Ecolab

$292.41+0.39%
Month: negativeLong run: neutral
Price change

Price change, with the S&P 500 as a benchmark

Percent change in each close since the start of the chosen range, for both companies and the S&P 500 (SPY). Daily closes over the last year, weekly before that and monthly before five years.

In short

How the two compare

On the latest closes (28 Oct 2026), Ecolab is the larger company by market value ($82.52B against $13.21B). Over the past year Albemarle Corporation returned +1.6% and Ecolab +5.4%, while the S&P 500 returned +12.7%. The operating margin is 26% for Albemarle Corporation and 17.2% for Ecolab. Over the next 21 sessions the model expects −0.16% for Albemarle Corporation, with a 39% chance of a rise, and −0.16% for Ecolab, with a 43% chance. Albemarle Corporation's long-run fair value is $68.63, a gap of −29.2% to its price; the long-run model view is negative. Ecolab's long-run fair value is $276.85, a gap of −5.3% to its price; the long-run model view is neutral.

Model view

What the model expects

Expected returns and the chance of a rise from our forecasting models, and the long-run fair value against the price. Readings, not advice.

Model readings:
Expected returnnext 21 sessions
ALB−0.16%
ECL−0.16%
Chance of a risenext 21 sessions
ALB39%
ECL43%
Expected returnnext 63 sessions
ALB+2.63%
ECL+0.8%
Range of outcomes63 sessions, 80% band
ALB−24.1% to +29.3%
ECL−14.4% to +16%
Chance of a risenext 63 sessionsMembers only · see plans
Long-run fair valueintrinsic value model
ALB$68.6328 Oct 2026
ECL$276.8528 Oct 2026
Gap to pricefair value against the close
ALB−29.2%
ECL−5.3%
Past readings that matchedsign of the 21-session outcome
ALB70.3%of 269
ECL42%of 269
Price performance

How the prices moved

Price change over each period, with the S&P 500 (SPY) for comparison.

Closes to
1 monthS&P 500: +1.1%
ALB−9.9%
ECL+5.2%
6 monthsS&P 500: +8.5%
ALB−49.1%
ECL+14.3%
Year to dateS&P 500: +13.3%
ALB−31.1%
ECL+12%
1 yearS&P 500: +12.7%
ALB+1.6%
ECL+5.4%
5 yearsS&P 500: +70.7%
ALB−56.3%
ECL+39.8%
1 year against the S&P 500percentage points
ALB−11.1 pts
ECL−7.3 pts
Position in the 52-week range0% low, 100% high
ALB7%close $96.96 in $87.31 to $220.44
ECL77%close $292.41 in $242.49 to $307.61
Against the 200-day average
ALB−35.6%
ECL+6.3%
Valuation

What the market pays

Size and the multiples from the latest filed quarter. A P/E on losses reads n/m.

Filings: quarter to
Market value
ALB$13.21B28 Oct 2026
ECL$82.52B28 Oct 2026
Enterprise valueat the last filing
ALB$18.56B30 Jun 2026
ECL$86.66B30 Jun 2026
P/Elatest filed
ALBn/mA P/E on negative earnings is not a multiple.
ECL37.7
Price to book
ALB1.75
ECL7.80
EV / EBITDA
ALB27.14
ECL24.80
Free cash flow yield
ALB8.78%
ECL2.38%
Dividend yield
ALB1.04%
ECL1.01%
Questions

Albemarle Corporation or Ecolab: common questions

Which is larger by market value, Albemarle Corporation or Ecolab?

Ecolab, at $82.52B against $13.21B for Albemarle Corporation, on the latest closes (28 Oct 2026).

Which has the higher P/E ratio, Albemarle Corporation or Ecolab?

Ecolab's latest filed P/E is 37.7; Albemarle Corporation reported losses, so its P/E is not meaningful (n/m). Filings: quarter to 30 Jun 2026.

How did Albemarle Corporation and Ecolab move over the past year against the S&P 500?

Over the past year Albemarle Corporation returned +1.6% and Ecolab +5.4%, while the S&P 500 returned +12.7%. Prices at close 28 Oct 2026.

What does the model expect for Albemarle Corporation and Ecolab over the next month?

−0.16% for Albemarle Corporation with a 39% chance of a rise, and −0.16% for Ecolab with a 43% chance, over the next 21 sessions. Model readings 28 Oct 2026. These are model readings, not advice.

How do the operating margins of Albemarle Corporation and Ecolab compare?

The operating margin is 26% for Albemarle Corporation and 17.2% for Ecolab, and the gross margin 33.9% against 44.1%. Filings: quarter to 30 Jun 2026.

Do Albemarle Corporation and Ecolab shares move together?

Over the past year the correlation of their daily returns was 0.12 (mostly independent); 1 means they always move together, 0 unrelated, −1 opposite. Prices at close 28 Oct 2026.

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The two company pagesAlbemarle Corporation (ALB) forecast and analysisEcolab (ECL) forecast and analysis
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Model readings are research estimates, not investment advice. Prices: daily closes. Fundamentals: the latest SEC filings. Short interest: FINRA, settlement 30 Sep 2026. A dash means the figure is not in our data; it is never shown as zero. The model view follows a published rule: next month by the sign of the expected return, the long run positive at a fair value 10% or more above the price and negative at 10% or more below it.