VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Stock Comparison

Air Liquide S.A. vs United Rentals, Inc.

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

United Rentals, Inc.

URI · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$61B
Gross margin (TTM)35.9%
Operating margin (TTM)25.1%
Net margin (TTM)15.8%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryRental & Leasing Services
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 United Rentals, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View URI analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: United Rentals, Inc. leads (63 / 100 vs 58 / 100 for Air Liquide S.A.).
  • Segment focus: Air Liquide S.A. has 6 segments (44% in Industrial Merchant); United Rentals, Inc. has 2 segments (70.7% in General Rentals).
  • Moat breadth: Air Liquide S.A. has 12 moat types across 3 domains; United Rentals, Inc. has 9 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%

United Rentals, Inc.

General Rentals

Market

Construction & industrial equipment rental (general line)

Geography

United States and Canada

Customer

Construction and industrial companies, manufacturers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners

Role

Equipment rental provider / fleet operator

Revenue share

70.7%

Side-by-side metrics

Air Liquide S.A.
United Rentals, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
AI - Euronext Paris
URI - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$91.6B
$61B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
35.9%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
25.1%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
15.8%
Sector
Materials
Industrials
Industry
Chemicals - Specialty
Rental & Leasing Services
HQ country
FR
US
Primary segment
Industrial Merchant
General Rentals
Market structure
Competitive
Competitive
Market share
n/a
9.5%-11% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
58 / 100
63 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Supply, Demand, Legal
Last update
2026-01-08
2026-01-01

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Physical Network DensityOperational ExcellenceService Field NetworkCompliance AdvantageScope Economies

Air Liquide S.A. strengths

Long Term ContractsScale Economies Unit CostDistribution ControlDesign In QualificationSupply Chain ControlIP Choke PointCapex Knowhow Scale

United Rentals, Inc. strengths

Preferential Input AccessData Workflow LockinBrand TrustCapacity Moat

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%

United Rentals, Inc. segments

Full profile >

General Rentals

Competitive

70.7%

Specialty

Competitive

29.3%

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.