Compare Stocks › ECL vs NOW
Ecolab Inc. (ECL) vs ServiceNow, Inc. (NOW)
ECL
Ecolab Inc.
$259.51
VS
NOW
ServiceNow, Inc.
$91.16
Rewards
ECL
- ★Ecolab Inc. scores 71/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.
- ★Free cash flow has grown at a 21.0% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.
- ★Each dollar of retained earnings has created $3.10 of earning power — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
NOW
- ★Gross margin of 76.6% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
- ★Free cash flow has grown at a 27.8% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.
- ★Each dollar of retained earnings has created $3.22 of earning power — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
Risks
ECL
- ⚠PEG ratio of 4.50 indicates the stock is expensive relative to its expected growth — the market may be pricing in more growth than analysts project.
- ⚠6 insider sales totaling $11.0M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
NOW
- ⚠Despite buyback spending, shares outstanding increased in 3 out of 3 years — stock-based compensation is offsetting repurchases.
- ⚠FCF yield of 5.4% suggests reasonable valuation assuming continued moderate growth.
- ⚠PEG ratio of 23.59 indicates the stock is expensive relative to its expected growth — the market may be pricing in more growth than analysts project.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →ECL
NOW
Valuation
N/A
Free Cash Flow
$5.11B
N/A
FCF Yield
5.43%
35.07
Trailing P/E
54.26
26.98
Forward P/E
18.22
Quality & Moat
11.36%
ROIC
10.39%
20.69%
ROE
14.90%
44.37%
Gross Margin
76.56%
4.50
PEG Ratio
23.59
Balance Sheet Safety
0.91
Debt / Equity
0.21
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
2.13
Net Debt / EBITDA
-0.95
1.06%
Dividend Yield
N/A
ECL: 4Ties: 1NOW: 4
ECLNOW
Historical Fundamentals
Learn more →ECL
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
NOW
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
$1 Retained Earnings Test
Learn more →ECL
$9.25
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$3.53B
Δ Market Cap
+$32.62B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
NOW
$16.65
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$4.90B
Δ Market Cap
+$81.66B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis
Learn more →ECL
28.2% Overvalued
Price is 28.2% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $259.51
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $202.37
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
NOW
9.7% Overvalued
Price is 9.7% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $91.16
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $83.12
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →ECL
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
NOW
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $91?
+20.8%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +6.2%
The market implies +20.8% Owner Earnings growth, below historical trends — potential opportunity.
Standard FCF implies a more demanding +6.2%, reflecting heavy growth investment expected to generate future returns.
Economic Moat Score
Learn more →ECL
71/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat driven primarily by revenue predictability. ROIC Consistency is the area most vulnerable to competitive pressure.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
NOW
61/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Narrow moat with revenue predictability as the key competitive advantage. Improving roic consistency would strengthen the moat.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 5 years of fundamental data.
Forensic Accounting
Learn more →ECL
-2.50
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
NOW
-2.87
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Ownership Breakdown
Learn more →ECL
Insiders 0.2%Institutions 93.7%Retail & Other 6.2%
No. of Institutional Holders2,249
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
NOW
Insiders 0.2%Institutions 90.5%Retail & Other 9.3%
No. of Institutional Holders3,112
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
Insider Buying Activity
Learn more →ECL
0
Buys (3M)
3
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $486,178
MACLENNAN DAVID W
Director
$193,198
@ $257.60 · 2025-12-08
MACLENNAN DAVID W
Director
$167,108
@ $278.51 · 2025-08-13
MACLENNAN DAVID W
Director
$125,872
@ $251.74 · 2025-05-07
MACLENNAN DAVID W
Director
$105,806
@ $264.51 · 2025-02-13
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
NOW
1
Buys (3M)
1
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $3.00M
MCDERMOTT WILLIAM R
Chief Executive Officer
$3.00M
@ $104.60 · 2026-02-27
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.
Insider Selling Activity
Learn more →ECL
6
Sells (3M)
13
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $21.08M
COOK GREGORY B
Officer
$1.07M
@ $304.25 · 2026-02-26
MCKIBBEN TRACY B.
Director
$390,455
@ $308.66 · 2026-02-25
BECK CHRISTOPHE
Chief Executive Officer
$6.15M
@ $307.37 · 2026-02-24
ALFANO NICHOLAS J
Officer
$2.88M
@ $303.58 · 2026-02-17
BRADWAY JENNIFER J
Officer
$185,132
@ $302.01 · 2026-02-13
REICH VICTORIA J
Director
$301,080
@ $301.08 · 2026-02-13
DE BOO ALEXANDER A
Officer
$381,452
@ $268.25 · 2025-11-24
BECK CHRISTOPHE
Chief Executive Officer
$5.68M
@ $261.41 · 2025-11-12
VAUTRINOT SUZANNE M.
Director
$383,401
@ $283.16 · 2025-08-19
BRADWAY JENNIFER J
Officer
$225,379
@ $279.28 · 2025-08-13
REICH VICTORIA J
Director
$352,300
@ $271.00 · 2025-06-12
COOK GREGORY B
Officer
$565,202
@ $253.00 · 2025-05-15
ALFANO NICHOLAS J
Officer
$2.52M
@ $253.75 · 2025-05-07
BERGER LARRY L
Chief Technology Officer
$2.90M
@ $266.95 · 2025-02-26
BRADWAY JENNIFER J
Officer
$228,866
@ $267.37 · 2025-02-25
MCKIBBEN TRACY B.
Director
$451,035
@ $264.69 · 2025-02-14
DUIJSER MACHIEL
Officer
$1.51M
@ $264.04 · 2025-02-13
HIGGINS ARTHUR J
Director
$473,490
@ $263.05 · 2025-02-13
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
NOW
5
Sells (3M)
48
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $28.54M
CANNEY JACQUELINE P
Officer
$799,868
@ $89.60 · 2026-04-24
FIPPS PAUL
Officer
$376,142
@ $101.77 · 2026-02-23
FIPPS PAUL
Officer
$1.02M
@ $105.93 · 2026-02-18
MCBRIDE KEVIN THOMAS
Officer
$147,994
@ $105.71 · 2026-02-13
CHAMBERLAIN PAUL EDWARD
Director
$151,755
@ $101.17 · 2026-02-12
MASTANTUONO GINA
President
$352,750
@ $850.00 · 2025-12-05
JACKSON LAWRENCE
Director
$214,708
@ $810.22 · 2025-11-28
MASTANTUONO GINA
President
$336,936
@ $808.00 · 2025-11-28
CHAMBERLAIN PAUL EDWARD
Director
$242,400
@ $808.00 · 2025-11-28
FIPPS PAUL
Officer
$249,353
@ $817.55 · 2025-11-18
ELMER RUSSELL S.
General Counsel
$160,155
@ $838.51 · 2025-11-18
CANNEY JACQUELINE P
Officer
$200,549
@ $839.12 · 2025-11-18
TZITZON NICHOLAS
Officer
$431,736
@ $827.08 · 2025-11-18
MCBRIDE KEVIN THOMAS
Officer
$235,894
@ $842.48 · 2025-11-14
ELMER RUSSELL S.
General Counsel
$52,848
@ $852.39 · 2025-11-13
CANNEY JACQUELINE P
Officer
$56,257
@ $852.38 · 2025-11-13
ELMER RUSSELL S.
General Counsel
$164,997
@ $863.86 · 2025-11-10
CANNEY JACQUELINE P
Officer
$222,012
@ $863.86 · 2025-11-10
SANDS ANITA M
Director
$1.00M
@ $915.11 · 2025-08-29
MCDERMOTT WILLIAM R
Chief Executive Officer
$5.34M
@ $916.63 · 2025-08-28
FIPPS PAUL
Officer
$1.30M
@ $895.32 · 2025-08-20
ELMER RUSSELL S.
General Counsel
$1.50M
@ $884.26 · 2025-08-20
MCDERMOTT WILLIAM R
Chief Executive Officer
$1.43M
@ $900.00 · 2025-08-19
MASTANTUONO GINA
President
$1.53M
@ $866.45 · 2025-08-18
CANNEY JACQUELINE P
Officer
$1.35M
@ $866.45 · 2025-08-18
TZITZON NICHOLAS
Officer
$1.49M
@ $866.45 · 2025-08-18
MCBRIDE KEVIN THOMAS
Officer
$238,496
@ $851.77 · 2025-08-15
CHAMBERLAIN PAUL EDWARD
Director
$258,000
@ $860.00 · 2025-08-14
MASTANTUONO GINA
President
$72,288
@ $860.57 · 2025-08-13
CANNEY JACQUELINE P
Officer
$57,658
@ $860.57 · 2025-08-13
MASTANTUONO GINA
President
$256,490
@ $878.39 · 2025-08-08
CANNEY JACQUELINE P
Officer
$225,746
@ $878.39 · 2025-08-08
JACKSON LAWRENCE
Director
$749,805
@ $990.50 · 2025-07-29
CANNEY JACQUELINE P
Officer
$341,631
@ $965.06 · 2025-07-16
SANDS ANITA M
Director
$250,950
@ $1050.00 · 2025-07-03
MCBRIDE KEVIN THOMAS
Officer
$283,310
@ $1011.82 · 2025-06-03
SANDS ANITA M
Director
$250,267
@ $1009.14 · 2025-06-02
MCDERMOTT WILLIAM R
Chief Executive Officer
$2.07M
@ $1012.01 · 2025-05-30
CANNEY JACQUELINE P
Officer
$147,900
@ $1020.00 · 2025-05-30
TZITZON NICHOLAS
Officer
$1.19M
@ $1020.00 · 2025-05-30
BRIGGS TERESA
Director
$216,913
@ $1013.61 · 2025-05-27
SANDS ANITA M
Director
$433,825
@ $1013.61 · 2025-05-27
LUDDY FREDERIC B
Director
$428,000
@ $1000.00 · 2025-05-23
MASTANTUONO GINA
President
$121,570
@ $1030.25 · 2025-05-19
ELMER RUSSELL S.
General Counsel
$83,450
@ $1030.25 · 2025-05-19
CANNEY JACQUELINE P
Officer
$96,844
@ $1030.26 · 2025-05-19
CHAMBERLAIN PAUL EDWARD
Director
$310,326
@ $1034.42 · 2025-05-15
MASTANTUONO GINA
President
$85,932
@ $1023.00 · 2025-05-13
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.
🎭 Mr. Market's Mood
Learn more →ECL
😐Neutral(43/100)
"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
NOW
😨Fear(33/100)
"Market is pessimistic — investigate whether fears are temporary or structural"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
⚖️ Buffett Signal
Learn more →ECL
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (43)
NOW
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Fear (33)