VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

HOYA Corporation vs Watsco, Inc.

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

HOYA Corporation

7741 · Tokyo Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$8.3T
Gross margin (TTM)80.1%
Operating margin (TTM)29.5%
Net margin (TTM)23.5%
SectorHealthcare
IndustryMedical - Instruments & Supplies
CountryJP
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
72/ 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 HOYA Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View 7741 analysis

Watsco, Inc.

WSO · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$14.4B
Gross margin (TTM)28.3%
Operating margin (TTM)10.2%
Net margin (TTM)7.4%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryIndustrial - Distribution
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-05
Moat score
72/ 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 Watsco, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View WSO analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score: both at 72 / 100.
  • Segment focus: HOYA Corporation has 5 segments (48.2% in Eye Health Domain (healthcare-related products)); Watsco, Inc. has 1 segment (100% in HVAC/R Distribution).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: HOYA Corporation has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Watsco, Inc. has 4 across 3.

Primary market context

HOYA Corporation

Eye Health Domain (healthcare-related products)

Market

Ophthalmic products (eyeglass lenses, contact lens retail, intraocular lenses)

Geography

Global (eyeglass lenses & IOL); Japan (contact lens retail)

Customer

Optical retailers, consumers, hospitals/clinics

Role

Manufacturer and retailer

Revenue share

48.2%

Watsco, Inc.

HVAC/R Distribution

Market

HVAC/R equipment, parts and supplies distribution

Geography

North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico; export to Latin America/Caribbean)

Customer

Licensed HVAC and refrigeration contractors (residential & commercial)

Role

Wholesale distributor

Revenue share

100%

Side-by-side metrics

HOYA Corporation
Watsco, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
7741 - Tokyo Stock Exchange
WSO - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$8.3T
$14.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
80.1%
28.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
29.5%
10.2%
Net margin (TTM)
23.5%
7.4%
Sector
Healthcare
Industrials
Industry
Medical - Instruments & Supplies
Industrial - Distribution
HQ country
JP
US
Primary segment
Eye Health Domain (healthcare-related products)
HVAC/R Distribution
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
9%-12% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
72 / 100
72 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Supply, Legal, Demand
Last update
2025-12-28
2026-01-05

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Physical Network Density

HOYA Corporation strengths

Brand TrustCompliance AdvantageReputation ReviewsDesign In QualificationLearning Curve YieldNiche speech synthesis portfolio

Watsco, Inc. strengths

Contractual ExclusivityScale Economies Unit CostData Workflow Lockin

Segment mix

HOYA Corporation segments

Full profile >

Eye Health Domain (healthcare-related products)

Oligopoly

48.2%

Med-Tech Domain (medical-related products)

Oligopoly

15.4%

Electronics-related products (semiconductor/display photomask materials, HDD substrates)

Oligopoly

30.6%

Imaging-related products (optical lenses and optical materials)

Competitive

5.3%

Other (speech synthesis software)

Competitive

0.5%

Watsco, Inc. segments

Full profile >

HVAC/R Distribution

Competitive

100%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.

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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.