VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Stock Comparison

Alcon Inc. vs The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.

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

Alcon Inc.

ALC · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$39.8B
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorHealthcare
Industry
CountryCH
Data as of2026-01-10
Moat score
71/ 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 Alcon Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View ALC analysis

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.

EL · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$41B
Gross margin (TTM)74.2%
Operating margin (TTM)-0.7%
Net margin (TTM)-6.4%
SectorConsumer
IndustryHousehold & Personal Products
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-23
Moat score
70/ 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 The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View EL analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Alcon Inc. leads (71 / 100 vs 70 / 100 for The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Alcon Inc. has 2 segments (56% in Surgical); The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. has 5 segments (48.6% in Skin Care).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: Alcon Inc. has 7 moat types across 3 domains; The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. has 4 across 2.

Primary market context

Alcon Inc.

Surgical

Market

Ophthalmic surgical devices (implantables, consumables, equipment) and related service/training

Geography

Global

Customer

Ophthalmic surgeons, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, group purchasing organizations

Role

Medical device OEM with direct service, clinical support, and training

Revenue share

56%

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.

Skin Care

Market

Prestige skin care products

Geography

Global

Customer

Consumers

Role

Branded manufacturer/marketer

Revenue share

48.6%

Side-by-side metrics

Alcon Inc.
The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
ALC - New York Stock Exchange
EL - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$39.8B
$41B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
74.2%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
-0.7%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
-6.4%
Sector
Healthcare
Consumer
Industry
n/a
Household & Personal Products
HQ country
CH
US
Primary segment
Surgical
Skin Care
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
40%-46% (implied)
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
71 / 100
70 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Demand, Supply
Last update
2026-01-10
2025-12-23

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand Trust

Alcon Inc. strengths

Installed Base ConsumablesSuite BundlingService Field NetworkCompliance AdvantageProcurement InertiaCapex Knowhow Scale

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. strengths

Distribution ControlOperational ExcellenceScope Economies

Segment mix

Alcon Inc. segments

Full profile >

Surgical

Oligopoly

56%

Vision Care

Oligopoly

44%

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. segments

Full profile >

Skin Care

Oligopoly

48.6%

Makeup

Oligopoly

29.4%

Fragrance

Oligopoly

17.4%

Hair Care

Competitive

3.9%

Other

Competitive

0.7%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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

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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.