VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV vs Ecolab Inc.

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

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

ABI · Euronext Brussels

Market cap (USD)$115.5B
Gross margin (TTM)55.9%
Operating margin (TTM)25.9%
Net margin (TTM)11.5%
SectorConsumer
CountryBE
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
75/ 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 Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View ABI 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: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV leads (75 / 100 vs 63 / 100 for Ecolab Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV has 6 segments (28.6% in Middle Americas); Ecolab Inc. has 4 segments (49.5% in Global Industrial).
  • Primary market structure: Duopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV has 5 moat types across 3 domains; Ecolab Inc. has 7 across 3.

Primary market context

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

Middle Americas

Market

Beer and malt-based beverages (plus growing no-alcohol and Beyond Beer)

Geography

Mexico, Central America, and Caribbean (AB InBev reporting segment)

Customer

Retailers and on-premise outlets

Role

Brewer / brand owner + route-to-market operator

Revenue share

28.6%

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

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
Ecolab Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
ABI - Euronext Brussels
ECL - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$115.5B
n/a
Gross margin (TTM)
55.9%
44.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
25.9%
17.3%
Net margin (TTM)
11.5%
12.5%
Sector
Consumer
Materials
HQ country
BE
US
Primary segment
Middle Americas
Global Industrial
Market structure
Duopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
75 / 100
63 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Network
Supply, Demand, Legal
Last update
2025-12-28
2026-01-01

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand TrustData Workflow Lockin

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV strengths

Scale Economies Unit CostDistribution ControlTwo Sided Network

Ecolab Inc. strengths

Service Field NetworkCompliance AdvantageInstalled Base ConsumablesLong Term ContractsTraining Org Change Costs

Segment mix

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV segments

Full profile >

North America

Oligopoly

24.5%

Middle Americas

Duopoly

28.6%

South America

Oligopoly

20.8%

EMEA

Oligopoly

15.1%

Asia Pacific

Competitive

10.4%

Global Export & Holding Companies

Competitive

0.7%

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?

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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.