VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Stock Comparison
American Water Works Company, Inc. vs Watsco, Inc.
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 analysisWatsco, Inc.
WSO · 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 Watsco, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View WSO analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: American Water Works Company, Inc. leads (79 / 100 vs 72 / 100 for Watsco, Inc.).
- Segment focus: American Water Works Company, Inc. has 2 segments (91.7% in Regulated Businesses); Watsco, Inc. has 1 segment (100% in HVAC/R Distribution).
- Primary market structure: Monopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: American Water Works Company, Inc. has 8 moat types across 3 domains; Watsco, Inc. has 4 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%
Watsco, Inc.
HVAC/R Distribution
HVAC/R equipment, parts and supplies distribution
North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico; export to Latin America/Caribbean)
Licensed HVAC and refrigeration contractors (residential & commercial)
Wholesale distributor
100%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
American Water Works Company, Inc. strengths
Watsco, Inc. strengths
Segment mix
American Water Works Company, Inc. segments
Full profile >Regulated Businesses
Monopoly
Military and Contract Water Services (Other)
Duopoly
Watsco, Inc. segments
Full profile >HVAC/R Distribution
Competitive
Want the full wide moat stocks list?
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View the moat stocks listLooking for expansion-stage stocks?
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.