VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Stock Comparison

Alcon Inc. vs Altria Group, 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

Altria Group, Inc.

MO · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$96.6B
Gross margin (TTM)72%
Operating margin (TTM)55.2%
Net margin (TTM)44%
SectorConsumer
IndustryTobacco
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
88/ 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 Altria Group, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View MO analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Altria Group, Inc. leads (88 / 100 vs 71 / 100 for Alcon Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Alcon Inc. has 2 segments (56% in Surgical); Altria Group, Inc. has 3 segments (88.3% in Smokeable Products).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: Alcon Inc. has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Altria Group, Inc. has 5 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%

Altria Group, Inc.

Smokeable Products

Market

U.S. cigarettes and machine-made cigars

Geography

United States

Customer

Wholesalers/distributors and large retail organizations (serving adult tobacco consumers 21+)

Role

Manufacturer and brand owner

Revenue share

88.3%

Side-by-side metrics

Alcon Inc.
Altria Group, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
ALC - New York Stock Exchange
MO - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$39.8B
$96.6B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
72%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
55.2%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
44%
Sector
Healthcare
Consumer
Industry
n/a
Tobacco
HQ country
CH
US
Primary segment
Surgical
Smokeable Products
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
40%-46% (implied)
45.9% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
71 / 100
88 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Demand, Financial, Legal
Last update
2026-01-10
2025-12-30

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Compliance AdvantageBrand Trust

Alcon Inc. strengths

Installed Base ConsumablesSuite BundlingService Field NetworkProcurement InertiaCapex Knowhow Scale

Altria Group, Inc. strengths

Habit DefaultBenchmark Pricing PowerRegulated Standards Pipe

Segment mix

Alcon Inc. segments

Full profile >

Surgical

Oligopoly

56%

Vision Care

Oligopoly

44%

Altria Group, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Smokeable Products

Oligopoly

88.3%

Oral Tobacco Products

Oligopoly

11.6%

E-Vapor and New Products (NJOY, Horizon, R&D)

Competitive

0.2%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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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.