VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Stock Comparison
American Water Works Company, Inc. vs The Sherwin-Williams Company
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
American Water Works Company, Inc.
AWK · New York Stock Exchange
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into American Water Works Company, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View AWK analysisThe Sherwin-Williams Company
SHW · New York Stock Exchange
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into The Sherwin-Williams Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View SHW analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: The Sherwin-Williams Company leads (84 / 100 vs 79 / 100 for American Water Works Company, Inc.).
- Segment focus: American Water Works Company, Inc. has 2 segments (91.7% in Regulated Businesses); The Sherwin-Williams Company has 3 segments (57.1% in Paint Stores Group).
- Primary market structure: Monopoly vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
- Moat breadth: American Water Works Company, Inc. has 8 moat types across 3 domains; The Sherwin-Williams Company has 6 across 3.
Primary market context
American Water Works Company, Inc.
Regulated Businesses
Regulated water and wastewater utility service in certificated/franchised territories
United States (14-state footprint)
Residential, commercial, industrial, public authority, fire service, and sale-for-resale customers
Regulated utility owner/operator (water & wastewater)
91.7%
The Sherwin-Williams Company
Paint Stores Group
Company-operated paint & coatings retail (architectural + related products)
United States, Canada, Caribbean
Professional contractors and DIY homeowners
Manufacturer-owned retail / distribution
57.1%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
American Water Works Company, Inc. strengths
The Sherwin-Williams Company strengths
Segment mix
American Water Works Company, Inc. segments
Full profile >Regulated Businesses
Monopoly
Military and Contract Water Services (Other)
Duopoly
The Sherwin-Williams Company segments
Full profile >Paint Stores Group
Quasi-Monopoly
Consumer Brands Group
Oligopoly
Performance Coatings Group
Oligopoly
Want the full wide moat stocks list?
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Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.
View expansion-stage stocksCuration & 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.