VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Stock Comparison

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. vs HCA Healthcare, Inc.

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

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

APD · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$55.1B
SectorMaterials
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-27
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 Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View APD analysis

HCA Healthcare, Inc.

HCA · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$106.5B
SectorHealthcare
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-01
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 HCA Healthcare, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View HCA analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. leads (70 / 100 vs 67 / 100 for HCA Healthcare, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has 3 segments (51.3% in On-site industrial gases (incl. pipelines)); HCA Healthcare, Inc. has 1 segment (100% in Hospitals and related healthcare entities).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has 6 moat types across 3 domains; HCA Healthcare, Inc. has 4 across 3.

Primary market context

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

On-site industrial gases (incl. pipelines)

Market

On-site supply of industrial gases (oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, etc.)

Geography

Global

Customer

Large-volume industrial customers (refining, chemicals, metals, electronics)

Role

Producer / operator of on-site plants and pipeline networks

Revenue share

51.3%

HCA Healthcare, Inc.

Hospitals and related healthcare entities

Market

Acute care hospitals and outpatient healthcare services

Geography

United States (multi-state) and England (United Kingdom)

Customer

Patients and third-party payers

Role

Provider operator

Revenue share

100%

Side-by-side metrics

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
HCA Healthcare, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
APD - New York Stock Exchange
HCA - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$55.1B
$106.5B
Sector
Materials
Healthcare
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
On-site industrial gases (incl. pipelines)
Hospitals and related healthcare entities
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Moderate
Moat score
70 / 100
67 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Legal, Supply
Legal, Supply, Demand
Last update
2025-12-27
2026-01-01

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Permits Rights Of WayPhysical Network Density

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. strengths

Long Term ContractsCapex Knowhow ScaleInstalled Base ConsumablesOperational Excellence

HCA Healthcare, Inc. strengths

Scope EconomiesSwitching Costs General

Segment mix

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. segments

Full profile >

On-site industrial gases (incl. pipelines)

Oligopoly

51.3%

Merchant gases (liquid bulk + packaged)

Competitive

44.3%

Industrial gases equipment (cryogenic & gas processing)

Competitive

4.3%

HCA Healthcare, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Hospitals and related healthcare entities

Oligopoly

100%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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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.