VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Friday, January 2, 2026

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Stock Comparison

AutoZone, Inc. vs Ecolab Inc.

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

AutoZone, Inc.

AZO · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$56.3B
Gross margin (TTM)52.2%
Operating margin (TTM)18.4%
Net margin (TTM)12.8%
SectorConsumer
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
59/ 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 AutoZone, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View AZO analysis

Ecolab Inc.

ECL · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)—
Gross margin (TTM)44.3%
Operating margin (TTM)17.3%
Net margin (TTM)12.5%
SectorMaterials
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-01
Moat score
63/ 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 Ecolab Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View ECL analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Ecolab Inc. leads (63 / 100 vs 59 / 100 for AutoZone, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: AutoZone, Inc. has 2 segments (88% in U.S. Auto Parts Retail & Commercial Distribution); Ecolab Inc. has 4 segments (49.5% in Global Industrial).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: AutoZone, Inc. has 6 moat types across 3 domains; Ecolab Inc. has 7 across 3.

Primary market context

AutoZone, Inc.

U.S. Auto Parts Retail & Commercial Distribution

Market

U.S. automotive aftermarket replacement parts & accessories retail and commercial distribution

Geography

United States

Customer

DIY consumers; professional repair shops (DIFM)

Role

Retailer and distributor

Revenue share

88%

Ecolab Inc.

Global Industrial

Market

Industrial water treatment & process chemistry (incl. food & beverage processing and pulp & paper process aids)

Geography

Global

Customer

B2B

Role

formulator + on-site service/optimization provider

Revenue share

49.5%

Side-by-side metrics

AutoZone, Inc.
Ecolab Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
AZO - New York Stock Exchange
ECL - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$56.3B
n/a
Gross margin (TTM)
52.2%
44.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
18.4%
17.3%
Net margin (TTM)
12.8%
12.5%
Sector
Consumer
Materials
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
U.S. Auto Parts Retail & Commercial Distribution
Global Industrial
Market structure
Competitive
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
59 / 100
63 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand, Financial
Supply, Demand, Legal
Last update
2025-12-31
2026-01-01

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Service Field NetworkBrand Trust

AutoZone, Inc. strengths

Distribution ControlPhysical Network DensityOperational ExcellenceNegative Working Capital

Ecolab Inc. strengths

Data Workflow LockinCompliance AdvantageInstalled Base ConsumablesLong Term ContractsTraining Org Change Costs

Segment mix

AutoZone, Inc. segments

Full profile >

U.S. Auto Parts Retail & Commercial Distribution

Competitive

88%

International Auto Parts Retail & Commercial Distribution (Mexico & Brazil)

Competitive

12%

Ecolab Inc. segments

Full profile >

Global Industrial

Oligopoly

49.5%

Global Institutional & Specialty

Oligopoly

34.1%

Global Healthcare & Life Sciences

Oligopoly

9%

Global Pest Elimination

Oligopoly

7.4%

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.