VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Stock Comparison

Air Liquide S.A. vs L'Oreal S.A.

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

L'Oreal S.A.

OR · Euronext Paris

Market cap (USD)$205.7B
Gross margin (TTM)74.1%
Operating margin (TTM)19.5%
Net margin (TTM)14.6%
SectorConsumer
IndustryHousehold & Personal Products
CountryFR
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
80/ 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 L'Oreal S.A.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View OR analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: L'Oreal S.A. leads (80 / 100 vs 58 / 100 for Air Liquide S.A.).
  • Segment focus: Air Liquide S.A. has 6 segments (44% in Industrial Merchant); L'Oreal S.A. has 4 segments (37% in Consumer Products Division).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Air Liquide S.A. has 12 moat types across 3 domains; L'Oreal S.A. has 7 across 3.

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%

L'Oreal S.A.

Consumer Products Division

Market

Mass-market beauty & personal care (skincare, haircare, makeup, hygiene)

Geography

Global

Customer

Consumers via mass retail, drugstores, supermarkets, and e-commerce

Role

Brand owner / marketer / manufacturer

Revenue share

37%

Side-by-side metrics

Air Liquide S.A.
L'Oreal S.A.
Ticker / Exchange
AI - Euronext Paris
OR - Euronext Paris
Market cap (USD)
$91.6B
$205.7B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
74.1%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
19.5%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
14.6%
Sector
Materials
Consumer
Industry
Chemicals - Specialty
Household & Personal Products
HQ country
FR
FR
Primary segment
Industrial Merchant
Consumer Products Division
Market structure
Competitive
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
58 / 100
80 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Demand, Supply, Legal
Last update
2026-01-08
2025-12-31

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Distribution ControlService Field NetworkCompliance AdvantageCapex Knowhow Scale

Air Liquide S.A. strengths

Long Term ContractsPhysical Network DensityScale Economies Unit CostOperational ExcellenceDesign In QualificationSupply Chain ControlIP Choke PointScope Economies

L'Oreal S.A. strengths

Brand TrustContractual ExclusivityTraining Org Change Costs

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%

L'Oreal S.A. segments

Full profile >

Consumer Products Division

Oligopoly

37%

L'Oreal Luxe Division

Oligopoly

36%

Dermatological Beauty Division

Oligopoly

16%

Professional Products Division

Oligopoly

11%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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

View the moat stocks list

Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.

View expansion-stage stocks

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.