VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Stock Comparison

Alcon Inc. vs Medtronic plc

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

Medtronic plc

MDT · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$125.1B
Gross margin (TTM)62.3%
Operating margin (TTM)17.9%
Net margin (TTM)13.7%
SectorHealthcare
IndustryMedical - Devices
CountryIE
Data as of2025-12-31
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 Medtronic plc's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View MDT analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Alcon Inc. leads (71 / 100 vs 63 / 100 for Medtronic plc).
  • Segment focus: Alcon Inc. has 2 segments (56% in Surgical); Medtronic plc has 4 segments (37.2% in Cardiovascular Portfolio).
  • Moat breadth: Alcon Inc. has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Medtronic plc has 9 across 3.

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%

Medtronic plc

Cardiovascular Portfolio

Market

Cardiovascular medical devices (cardiac rhythm management, electrophysiology/ablation, structural heart, coronary & peripheral vascular)

Geography

Global

Customer

Hospitals, cath labs, electrophysiologists, cardiologists, cardiac & vascular surgeons

Role

Device OEM + procedure support + remote monitoring software/services

Revenue share

37.2%

Side-by-side metrics

Alcon Inc.
Medtronic plc
Ticker / Exchange
ALC - New York Stock Exchange
MDT - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$39.8B
$125.1B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
62.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
17.9%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
13.7%
Sector
Healthcare
Healthcare
Industry
n/a
Medical - Devices
HQ country
CH
IE
Primary segment
Surgical
Cardiovascular Portfolio
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
63 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Legal, Demand, Network
Last update
2026-01-10
2025-12-31

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Installed Base ConsumablesSuite BundlingCompliance AdvantageProcurement Inertia

Alcon Inc. strengths

Service Field NetworkBrand TrustCapex Knowhow Scale

Medtronic plc strengths

Regulated Standards PipeData Workflow LockinDesign In QualificationEcosystem ComplementsIP Choke Point

Segment mix

Alcon Inc. segments

Full profile >

Surgical

Oligopoly

56%

Vision Care

Oligopoly

44%

Medtronic plc segments

Full profile >

Cardiovascular Portfolio

Oligopoly

37.2%

Neuroscience Portfolio

Oligopoly

29.4%

Medical Surgical Portfolio

Competitive

25.1%

Diabetes Operating Unit

Oligopoly

8.2%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

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.