VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Monday, January 5, 2026

Stock Comparison

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited vs The Charles Schwab Corporation

Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited

0388.HK · Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX)

Market cap (USD)$67.7B
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorFinancials
Industry
CountryHK
Data as of2026-01-03
Moat score
92/ 100

Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.

Full stock profile

Dive deeper into Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View 0388.HK analysis

The Charles Schwab Corporation

SCHW · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$183.6B
Gross margin (TTM)84.4%
Operating margin (TTM)39%
Net margin (TTM)30.3%
SectorFinancials
IndustryFinancial - Capital Markets
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-26
Moat score
74/ 100

Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.

Full stock profile

Dive deeper into The Charles Schwab Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View SCHW analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited leads (92 / 100 vs 74 / 100 for The Charles Schwab Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited has 4 segments (52.6% in Cash Markets); The Charles Schwab Corporation has 2 segments (79.4% in Investor Services).
  • Primary market structure: Monopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Weak.
  • Moat breadth: Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited has 9 moat types across 5 domains; The Charles Schwab Corporation has 7 across 4.

Primary market context

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited

Cash Markets

Market

Exchange-based cash equities trading, clearing and settlement in Hong Kong (including Stock Connect cash markets)

Geography

Hong Kong (with Mainland China Connect linkage)

Customer

Brokers, banks, proprietary trading firms, and investors; listed issuers via primary/secondary markets

Role

Exchange operator + clearing/settlement/depository operator

Revenue share

52.6%

The Charles Schwab Corporation

Investor Services

Market

U.S. retail brokerage, self-directed investing, and wealth management platforms

Geography

United States

Customer

Retail investors, employers, retirement plan sponsors

Role

Broker-dealer + bank + wealth manager platform

Revenue share

79.4%

Side-by-side metrics

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited
The Charles Schwab Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
0388.HK - Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX)
SCHW - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$67.7B
$183.6B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
84.4%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
39%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
30.3%
Sector
Financials
Financials
Industry
n/a
Financial - Capital Markets
HQ country
HK
US
Primary segment
Cash Markets
Investor Services
Market structure
Monopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
100% (reported)
n/a
HHI estimate
10,000
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Weak
Moat score
92 / 100
74 / 100
Moat domains
Legal, Network, Financial, Supply, Demand
Supply, Demand, Financial, Network
Last update
2026-01-03
2025-12-26

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited strengths

Concession LicenseClearing SettlementInteroperability HubTwo Sided NetworkDirect Network EffectsBenchmark Pricing PowerPhysical Network DensityDistribution ControlSwitching Costs General

The Charles Schwab Corporation strengths

Scale Economies Unit CostSuite BundlingBrand TrustFloat PrepaymentData Workflow LockinEcosystem ComplementsService Field Network

Segment mix

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited segments

Full profile >

Cash Markets

Monopoly

52.6%

Equity and Financial Derivatives

Monopoly

20.3%

Commodities (LME and related)

Oligopoly

14.8%

Data and Connectivity

Quasi-Monopoly

12.2%

The Charles Schwab Corporation segments

Full profile >

Investor Services

Oligopoly

79.4%

Advisor Services

Oligopoly

20.6%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.

View the moat stocks list

Curation & Accuracy

This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).

Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.