Ecolab (WBO:ECL) Moat Score: 8/10 (As of Jul. 01, 2026)


WBO:ECL Ecolab Inc WBO:ECL
80 GF Score
Price €244.30
GF Value €234.52
Valuation Fairly Valued
! 1 Warning Sign
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What is Ecolab Moat Score?

Ecolab WBO:ECL +0.08% 80 Moat Score is 8 as of Jul. 01, 2026. GuruFocus rates WBO:ECL with a GF Score™ of 80/100 and a GF Value™ of €234.52 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 1 warning sign investors should review. Among 1,623 Chemicals companies, Ecolab ranks better than 99.94% on this metric.

Ecolab has the Moat Score of 8, which implies that the company might have Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat.

Ecolab has Wide Moat: Ecolab Inc has a robust wide moat due to its market leadership in water, hygiene, and energy technologies. It benefits from strong brand strength, significant customer switching costs, and economies of scale. The company also has valuable intellectual property and a superior distribution network.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes Ecolab might have Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat.

Ecolab  (WBO:ECL) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

Ecolab Moat Score Related Terms

WBO:ECL vs SHW, APD, PPG: Moat Score Comparison

For the Specialty Chemicals subindustry, Ecolab's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.

Ecolab Moat Score vs Chemicals Industry

For the Chemicals industry and Basic Materials sector, Ecolab's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Ecolab's Moat Score falls into.


WBO:ECL
80GF Score
Ecolab Inc WBO:ECL
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 8 mean?
Ecolab (WBO:ECL) has a Moat Score of 8 as of Jul. 01, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, Ecolab ranks #1 out of 1623 companies in the Chemicals industry, placing it in the top 0.099999999999994%.
Is Ecolab's Moat Score too high?
Ecolab's current Moat Score is 8. Based on the distribution chart, Ecolab ranks #1 out of 1623 companies in the Chemicals industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Ecolab has a GF Score™ of 80/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Ecolab's Moat Score compare to SHW and APD?
According to the Chemicals industry distribution chart, Ecolab ranks #1 out of 1623 companies for Moat Score. This places Ecolab in the top 0% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for a Chemicals company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Chemicals industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. Ecolab's current Moat Score is 8. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Ecolab stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Ecolab (WBO:ECL) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is €234.52, compared to a current price of €244.30 — trading 4.2% above its estimated fair value. The current Moat Score is 8. Ecolab's overall GF Score™ is 80/100 with 1 warning sign to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Ecolab (WBO:ECL), the current Moat Score is 8 as of Jul. 01, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Ecolab (WBO:ECL) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Ecolab stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of €244.30 is trading 4.2% above its estimated GF Value™ of €234.52. GuruFocus considers Ecolab to be Fairly Valued.

Key valuation signals for WBO:ECL:

  • Moat Score: 8
  • GF Value™: €234.52 vs. price of €244.30 (4.2% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 80/100 with 1 warning sign

No single metric tells the full story. See the WBO:ECL stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.

Ecolab Business Description

Address 1 Ecolab Place, Saint Paul, MN, USA, 55102
Ecolab produces and markets cleaning and sanitation products for the industrial manufacturing, data center, hospitality, healthcare, and life sciences markets. The firm is the global market share leader in this category with a wide array of products and services, including dish and laundry washing systems, pest control, and infection control products. Additionally, Ecolab sells customized water management and cooling solutions across its end markets. The company has a strong hold on the US market and is growing its presence abroad.
80GF Score

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Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

€244.30
Price
€234.52
GF Value