VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Sunday, January 11, 2026
Stock Comparison
Alcon Inc. vs American Water Works Company, Inc.
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
Alcon Inc.
ALC · New York Stock Exchange
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
American Water Works Company, Inc.
AWK · New York Stock Exchange
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into American Water Works Company, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View AWK analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: American Water Works Company, Inc. leads (79 / 100 vs 71 / 100 for Alcon Inc.).
- Segment focus: Alcon Inc. has 2 segments (56% in Surgical); American Water Works Company, Inc. has 2 segments (91.7% in Regulated Businesses).
- Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Monopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: Alcon Inc. has 7 moat types across 3 domains; American Water Works Company, Inc. has 8 across 3.
Primary market context
Alcon Inc.
Surgical
Ophthalmic surgical devices (implantables, consumables, equipment) and related service/training
Global
Ophthalmic surgeons, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, group purchasing organizations
Medical device OEM with direct service, clinical support, and training
56%
American Water Works Company, Inc.
Regulated Businesses
Regulated water and wastewater utility service in certificated/franchised territories
United States (14-state footprint)
Residential, commercial, industrial, public authority, fire service, and sale-for-resale customers
Regulated utility owner/operator (water & wastewater)
91.7%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
Alcon Inc. strengths
American Water Works Company, Inc. strengths
Segment mix
Alcon Inc. segments
Full profile >Surgical
Oligopoly
Vision Care
Oligopoly
American Water Works Company, Inc. segments
Full profile >Regulated Businesses
Monopoly
Military and Contract Water Services (Other)
Duopoly
Want the full wide moat stocks list?
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View the moat stocks listLooking for expansion-stage stocks?
Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.
View expansion-stage stocksCuration & 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.