VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Stock Comparison

Air Liquide S.A. vs James Hardie Industries plc

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

Air Liquide S.A.

AI · Euronext Paris

Market cap (USD)$91.6B
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorMaterials
IndustryChemicals - Specialty
CountryFR
Data as of2026-01-08
Moat score
58/ 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 Air Liquide S.A.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View AI analysis

James Hardie Industries plc

JHX · ASX

Market cap (USD)$18.8B
Gross margin (TTM)36.3%
Operating margin (TTM)13.6%
Net margin (TTM)4.7%
SectorMaterials
IndustryConstruction Materials
CountryIE
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
74/ 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 James Hardie Industries plc's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View JHX analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: James Hardie Industries plc leads (74 / 100 vs 58 / 100 for Air Liquide S.A.).
  • Segment focus: Air Liquide S.A. has 6 segments (44% in Industrial Merchant); James Hardie Industries plc has 4 segments (64.2% in Siding & Trim).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Air Liquide S.A. has 12 moat types across 3 domains; James Hardie Industries plc has 5 across 2.

Primary market context

Air Liquide S.A.

Industrial Merchant

Market

Merchant industrial and medical gases distribution (cylinders, bulk liquids) plus related equipment and services

Geography

Global (local/regional distribution markets)

Customer

SMEs and mid-market industrial customers, contractors, labs, and public sector buyers

Role

Distributor + producer (last-mile logistics, cylinder assets, bulk delivery)

Revenue share

44%

James Hardie Industries plc

Siding & Trim

Market

North American fiber cement exterior siding & trim (plus related exterior products)

Geography

North America (primarily U.S. and Canada)

Customer

Homebuilders, contractors, remodelers, dealers/distributors, and retailers

Role

Manufacturer / branded building-products supplier

Revenue share

64.2%

Side-by-side metrics

Air Liquide S.A.
James Hardie Industries plc
Ticker / Exchange
AI - Euronext Paris
JHX - ASX
Market cap (USD)
$91.6B
$18.8B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
36.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
13.6%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
4.7%
Sector
Materials
Materials
Industry
Chemicals - Specialty
Construction Materials
HQ country
FR
IE
Primary segment
Industrial Merchant
Siding & Trim
Market structure
Competitive
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
n/a
88%-92% (estimated)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
58 / 100
74 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Supply, Demand
Last update
2026-01-08
2025-12-28

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Long Term ContractsDistribution ControlOperational ExcellenceCapex Knowhow Scale

Air Liquide S.A. strengths

Physical Network DensityScale Economies Unit CostService Field NetworkCompliance AdvantageDesign In QualificationSupply Chain ControlIP Choke PointScope Economies

James Hardie Industries plc strengths

Brand Trust

Segment mix

Air Liquide S.A. segments

Full profile >

Large Industries

Oligopoly

26%

Industrial Merchant

Competitive

44%

Healthcare

Competitive

16%

Electronics

Oligopoly

9%

Engineering & Construction

Competitive

2%

Global Markets & Technologies

Competitive

3%

James Hardie Industries plc segments

Full profile >

Siding & Trim

Quasi-Monopoly

64.2%

Deck, Rail & Accessories

Oligopoly

11.7%

Australia & New Zealand

Oligopoly

11.6%

Europe

Competitive

12.5%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

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.