VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Stock Comparison
Air Liquide S.A. vs Costco Wholesale Corporation
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
Air Liquide S.A.
AI · Euronext Paris
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into Air Liquide S.A.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View AI analysisCostco Wholesale Corporation
COST · Nasdaq Global Select Market
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into Costco Wholesale Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View COST analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: Costco Wholesale Corporation leads (80 / 100 vs 58 / 100 for Air Liquide S.A.).
- Segment focus: Air Liquide S.A. has 6 segments (44% in Industrial Merchant); Costco Wholesale Corporation has 2 segments (98.1% in Warehouse club retail).
- Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Weak.
- Moat breadth: Air Liquide S.A. has 12 moat types across 3 domains; Costco Wholesale Corporation has 6 across 3.
Primary market context
Air Liquide S.A.
Industrial Merchant
Merchant industrial and medical gases distribution (cylinders, bulk liquids) plus related equipment and services
Global (local/regional distribution markets)
SMEs and mid-market industrial customers, contractors, labs, and public sector buyers
Distributor + producer (last-mile logistics, cylinder assets, bulk delivery)
44%
Costco Wholesale Corporation
Warehouse club retail
Membership warehouse club retail (warehouse clubs, ancillary services, and e-commerce)
Global
Households and small businesses
Retailer (membership club)
98.1%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
Air Liquide S.A. strengths
Costco Wholesale Corporation strengths
Segment mix
Air Liquide S.A. segments
Full profile >Large Industries
Oligopoly
Industrial Merchant
Competitive
Healthcare
Competitive
Electronics
Oligopoly
Engineering & Construction
Competitive
Global Markets & Technologies
Competitive
Costco Wholesale Corporation segments
Full profile >Warehouse club retail
Oligopoly
Membership fees (subscription)
Oligopoly
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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.