VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Stock Comparison

ABB Ltd vs Watsco, Inc.

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

ABB Ltd

ABBN · SIX Swiss Exchange

Market cap (USD)$110.1B
Gross margin (TTM)39.4%
Operating margin (TTM)17.2%
Net margin (TTM)12.9%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryElectrical Equipment & Parts
CountryCH
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
73/ 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 ABB Ltd's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View ABBN 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 gap: ABB Ltd leads (73 / 100 vs 72 / 100 for Watsco, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: ABB Ltd has 4 segments (46.2% in Electrification); Watsco, Inc. has 1 segment (100% in HVAC/R Distribution).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: ABB Ltd has 6 moat types across 3 domains; Watsco, Inc. has 4 across 3.

Primary market context

ABB Ltd

Electrification

Market

Low- and medium-voltage electrification equipment and solutions

Geography

Global

Customer

B2B/B2G

Role

Manufacturer and solutions provider; channel-led distribution; after-sales service

Revenue share

46.2%

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

ABB Ltd
Watsco, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
ABBN - SIX Swiss Exchange
WSO - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$110.1B
$14.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
39.4%
28.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
17.2%
10.2%
Net margin (TTM)
12.9%
7.4%
Sector
Industrials
Industrials
Industry
Electrical Equipment & Parts
Industrial - Distribution
HQ country
CH
US
Primary segment
Electrification
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
73 / 100
72 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand, Network
Supply, Legal, Demand
Last update
2025-12-31
2026-01-05

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Data Workflow Lockin

ABB Ltd strengths

Distribution ControlBrand TrustService Field NetworkInstalled Base ConsumablesEcosystem Complements

Watsco, Inc. strengths

Physical Network DensityContractual ExclusivityScale Economies Unit Cost

Segment mix

ABB Ltd segments

Full profile >

Electrification

Oligopoly

46.2%

Motion

Oligopoly

22%

Process Automation

Oligopoly

20.5%

Robotics & Discrete Automation

Oligopoly

9.8%

Watsco, Inc. segments

Full profile >

HVAC/R Distribution

Competitive

100%

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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.