VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Stock Comparison

ANSYS, Inc. vs LPL Financial Holdings Inc.

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

ANSYS, Inc.

ANSS · Nasdaq Global Select Market

Market cap (USD)
SectorTechnology
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
68/ 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 ANSYS, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View ANSS analysis

LPL Financial Holdings Inc.

LPLA · Nasdaq

Market cap (USD)$29.9B
SectorFinancials
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-26
Moat score
79/ 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 LPL Financial Holdings Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View LPLA analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: LPL Financial Holdings Inc. leads (79 / 100 vs 68 / 100 for ANSYS, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: ANSYS, Inc. has 3 segments; LPL Financial Holdings Inc. has 1 segment (100% in Advisor Platform).
  • Moat breadth: ANSYS, Inc. has 7 moat types across 3 domains; LPL Financial Holdings Inc. has 6 across 4.

Primary market context

ANSYS, Inc.

Core Multiphysics Simulation Platform (CAE)

Market

Multiphysics engineering simulation (CAE) software

Geography

Global

Customer

Enterprises and academia

Role

Engineering design, verification, and validation software

LPL Financial Holdings Inc.

Advisor Platform

Market

Advisor-mediated wealth management platform (independent broker-dealer + RIA custody/clearing)

Geography

United States

Customer

Financial advisors and financial institutions

Role

Platform / broker-dealer / custodian

Revenue share

100%

Side-by-side metrics

ANSYS, Inc.
LPL Financial Holdings Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
ANSS - Nasdaq Global Select Market
LPLA - Nasdaq
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$29.9B
Sector
Technology
Financials
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Core Multiphysics Simulation Platform (CAE)
Advisor Platform
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
23%-25% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
68 / 100
79 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Network, Legal
Supply, Demand, Legal, Network
Last update
2025-12-31
2025-12-26

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Suite BundlingSwitching Costs GeneralCompliance Advantage

ANSYS, Inc. strengths

Data Workflow LockinDesign In QualificationDe Facto StandardEcosystem Complements

LPL Financial Holdings Inc. strengths

Scale Economies Unit CostOperational ExcellenceTwo Sided Network

Segment mix

ANSYS, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Core Multiphysics Simulation Platform (CAE)

Oligopoly

n/a

Electronics & Semiconductor Simulation (EDA-adjacent)

Oligopoly

n/a

Digital Mission Engineering & Safety-Critical Tooling

Competitive

n/a

LPL Financial Holdings Inc. segments

Full profile >

Advisor Platform

Oligopoly

100%

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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.