VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

Ambev S.A. vs Ecolab Inc.

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

Ambev S.A.

ABEV3 · B3 - Brasil Bolsa Balcao

Market cap (USD)$38B
Gross margin (TTM)51.8%
Operating margin (TTM)26.5%
Net margin (TTM)17.7%
SectorConsumer
CountryBR
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
82/ 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 Ambev S.A.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View ABEV3 analysis

Ecolab Inc.

ECL · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)
Gross margin (TTM)44.3%
Operating margin (TTM)17.3%
Net margin (TTM)12.5%
SectorMaterials
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-01
Moat score
63/ 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 Ecolab Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View ECL analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Ambev S.A. leads (82 / 100 vs 63 / 100 for Ecolab Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Ambev S.A. has 5 segments (45% in Brazil - Beer); Ecolab Inc. has 4 segments (49.5% in Global Industrial).
  • Moat breadth: Ambev S.A. has 3 moat types across 3 domains; Ecolab Inc. has 7 across 3.

Primary market context

Ambev S.A.

Brazil - Beer

Market

Beer production and distribution

Geography

Brazil

Customer

On-trade and off-trade retailers; distributors

Role

Producer & distributor

Revenue share

45%

Ecolab Inc.

Global Industrial

Market

Industrial water treatment & process chemistry (incl. food & beverage processing and pulp & paper process aids)

Geography

Global

Customer

B2B

Role

formulator + on-site service/optimization provider

Revenue share

49.5%

Side-by-side metrics

Ambev S.A.
Ecolab Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
ABEV3 - B3 - Brasil Bolsa Balcao
ECL - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$38B
n/a
Gross margin (TTM)
51.8%
44.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
26.5%
17.3%
Net margin (TTM)
17.7%
12.5%
Sector
Consumer
Materials
HQ country
BR
US
Primary segment
Brazil - Beer
Global Industrial
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
55%-65% (estimated)
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
82 / 100
63 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Supply, Demand, Legal
Last update
2025-12-28
2026-01-01

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand Trust

Ambev S.A. strengths

Distribution ControlContractual Exclusivity

Ecolab Inc. strengths

Service Field NetworkData Workflow LockinCompliance AdvantageInstalled Base ConsumablesLong Term ContractsTraining Org Change Costs

Segment mix

Ambev S.A. segments

Full profile >

Brazil - Beer

Oligopoly

45%

Brazil - Non-alcoholic beverages

Oligopoly

9.4%

Central America and the Caribbean

Oligopoly

12.3%

Latin America South

Oligopoly

22.2%

Canada

Oligopoly

11.2%

Ecolab Inc. segments

Full profile >

Global Industrial

Oligopoly

49.5%

Global Institutional & Specialty

Oligopoly

34.1%

Global Healthcare & Life Sciences

Oligopoly

9%

Global Pest Elimination

Oligopoly

7.4%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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

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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.