VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Stock Comparison

Alcon Inc. vs Graco 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

Graco Inc.

GGG · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$14.2B
Gross margin (TTM)52.3%
Operating margin (TTM)26.6%
Net margin (TTM)22.7%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryIndustrial - Machinery
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-05
Moat score
67/ 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 Graco Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View GGG analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Alcon Inc. leads (71 / 100 vs 67 / 100 for Graco Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Alcon Inc. has 2 segments (56% in Surgical); Graco Inc. has 3 segments (49.4% in Contractor).
  • Moat breadth: Alcon Inc. has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Graco Inc. has 7 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%

Graco Inc.

Contractor

Market

Professional and prosumer paint/coatings application equipment (airless sprayers, texture sprayers, line stripers, plural-component proportioners)

Geography

Global

Customer

Professional contractors and trades; DIY consumers via retail channels

Role

Equipment OEM / brand owner

Revenue share

49.4%

Side-by-side metrics

Alcon Inc.
Graco Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
ALC - New York Stock Exchange
GGG - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$39.8B
$14.2B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
52.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
26.6%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
22.7%
Sector
Healthcare
Industrials
Industry
n/a
Industrial - Machinery
HQ country
CH
US
Primary segment
Surgical
Contractor
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
40%-46% (implied)
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
71 / 100
67 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Demand, Supply
Last update
2026-01-10
2026-01-05

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Installed Base ConsumablesService Field NetworkBrand Trust

Alcon Inc. strengths

Suite BundlingCompliance AdvantageProcurement InertiaCapex Knowhow Scale

Graco Inc. strengths

Distribution ControlOperational ExcellenceDesign In QualificationScope Economies

Segment mix

Alcon Inc. segments

Full profile >

Surgical

Oligopoly

56%

Vision Care

Oligopoly

44%

Graco Inc. segments

Full profile >

Contractor

Oligopoly

49.4%

Industrial

Oligopoly

43.1%

Expansion Markets

Competitive

7.5%

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.