ECL vs. CLX
ECL (Ecolab Inc.) and CLX (The Clorox Company) are both stocks. ECL operates in Specialty Chemicals (Basic Materials), while CLX operates in Household & Personal Products (Consumer Defensive). Over the past 10 years, ECL returned 9.68%/yr vs -0.21%/yr for CLX. Their 0.29 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship.
Performance
ECL vs. CLX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ECL achieves a 6.33% return, which is significantly higher than CLX's -3.00% return. Over the past 10 years, ECL has outperformed CLX with an annualized return of 9.68%, while CLX has yielded a comparatively lower -0.21% annualized return.
ECL
- 1D
- -0.61%
- 1M
- -2.02%
- 6M
- -1.01%
- YTD
- 6.33%
- 1Y
- 7.50%
- 3Y*
- 15.65%
- 5Y*
- 5.85%
- 10Y*
- 9.68%
- ALL TIME*
- 14.00%
CLX
- 1D
- -1.24%
- 1M
- -1.78%
- 6M
- -14.24%
- YTD
- -3.00%
- 1Y
- -18.90%
- 3Y*
- -11.07%
- 5Y*
- -9.05%
- 10Y*
- -0.21%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.61%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $216.17M | $226.67M | $248.74M | |
ECL Ecolab Inc. | $370.45M | $328.65M | $428.60M |
ECL vs. CLX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ECL Ecolab Inc. | 6.33% | 13.19% | 19.29% | 37.94% | -37.10% | 9.38% | 13.17% | 32.26% | 11.07% | 15.80% |
CLX The Clorox Company | -3.00% | -35.59% | 17.72% | 4.99% | -17.00% | -11.50% | 34.46% | 2.23% | 6.55% | 27.14% |
Correlation
The correlation between ECL and CLX is 0.44, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.44 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.37 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.36 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.29 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 5, 1988 | 0.29 |
The correlation between ECL and CLX shifts across timeframes, from 0.29 (10 years) to 0.44 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
ECL:
$78.14B
CLX:
$11.55B
ECL:
$7.45
CLX:
$6.18
ECL:
37.26
CLX:
15.45
ECL:
1.97
CLX:
0.35
ECL:
4.68
CLX:
1.73
ECL:
$16.84B
CLX:
$6.76B
ECL:
$3.71B
CLX:
$2.96B
ECL:
$3.07B
CLX:
$1.45B
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Return for Risk
ECL vs. CLX — Risk / Return Rank
ECL
CLX
ECL vs. CLX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Ecolab Inc. (ECL) and The Clorox Company (CLX). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| ECL | CLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.03 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.44 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.07 | 0.90 | +0.17 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.36 | -0.65 | +1.01 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.76 | -1.22 | +1.97 |
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Drawdowns
ECL vs. CLX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ECL drawdown since its inception was -47.19%, smaller than the maximum CLX drawdown of -56.34%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ECL and CLX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ECL | CLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -47.19% | -56.34% | +9.15% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -20.09% | -31.42% | +11.33% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -20.09% | -46.11% | +26.02% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -43.70% | -46.11% | +2.41% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -43.70% | -56.34% | +12.64% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.48% | -51.57% | +42.09% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.99% | -13.55% | +5.56% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 9.54% | 16.87% | -7.33% |
Volatility
ECL vs. CLX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Ecolab Inc. (ECL) is 7.54%, while The Clorox Company (CLX) has a volatility of 8.98%. This indicates that ECL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than CLX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ECL | CLX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.54% | 8.98% | -1.44% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 17.27% | 25.20% | -7.93% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.79% | 29.37% | -7.58% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.08% | 26.43% | -2.35% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 25.13% | 24.75% | +0.38% |
Dividends
ECL vs. CLX - Dividend Comparison
ECL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.02%, less than CLX's 5.19% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CLX The Clorox Company | 5.19% | 4.88% | 2.98% | 3.34% | 3.33% | 2.60% | 2.15% | 2.63% | 2.41% | 2.21% | 2.62% | 2.38% |
ECL Ecolab Inc. | 1.02% | 1.02% | 1.01% | 1.09% | 1.42% | 0.83% | 0.87% | 0.96% | 1.15% | 1.13% | 1.21% | 1.17% |
Financials
ECL vs. CLX - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Ecolab Inc. and The Clorox Company. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
ECL vs. CLX - Profitability Comparison
ECL - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Ecolab Inc. reported a gross profit of -1.77B and revenue of 4.42B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was -40.1%.
CLX - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, The Clorox Company reported a gross profit of 722.00M and revenue of 1.67B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 43.2%.
ECL - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Ecolab Inc. reported an operating income of 757.90M and revenue of 4.42B, resulting in an operating margin of 17.2%.
CLX - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, The Clorox Company reported an operating income of 466.00M and revenue of 1.67B, resulting in an operating margin of 27.9%.
ECL - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Ecolab Inc. reported a net income of 534.90M and revenue of 4.42B, resulting in a net margin of 12.1%.
CLX - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, The Clorox Company reported a net income of 187.00M and revenue of 1.67B, resulting in a net margin of 11.2%.
Frequently Asked Questions
ECL and CLX have a correlation of 0.44, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
CLX has higher volatility (8.98%) compared to ECL (7.54%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ECL dropped -47.19% vs CLX's -56.34%.
ECL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.33 vs -0.70), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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