VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

The Boeing Company vs Waters Corporation

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

The Boeing Company

BA · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$176.4B
Gross margin (TTM)1.2%
Operating margin (TTM)-10.4%
Net margin (TTM)-12.2%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryAerospace & Defense
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-23
Moat score
61/ 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 The Boeing Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View BA analysis

Waters Corporation

WAT · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$23.7B
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorHealthcare
Industry
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-09
Moat score
66/ 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 Waters Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View WAT analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Waters Corporation leads (66 / 100 vs 61 / 100 for The Boeing Company).
  • Segment focus: The Boeing Company has 3 segments (35.8% in Defense, Space & Security (BDS)); Waters Corporation has 4 segments (34.9% in Waters instrument systems).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Weak vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: The Boeing Company has 9 moat types across 3 domains; Waters Corporation has 7 across 2.

Primary market context

The Boeing Company

Defense, Space & Security (BDS)

Market

Defense aerospace & space prime contracting (air, space, and mission systems)

Geography

Primarily U.S., with international programs

Customer

U.S. and allied governments; defense agencies

Role

Prime contractor / systems integrator

Revenue share

35.8%

Waters Corporation

Waters instrument systems

Market

Liquid chromatography (LC/UPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS) analytical instrument systems (including LC-MS workflows and instrument control/data system software)

Geography

Global

Customer

Pharma/biotech, industrial, academic and government laboratories

Role

OEM + software/platform provider

Revenue share

34.9%

Side-by-side metrics

The Boeing Company
Waters Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
BA - New York Stock Exchange
WAT - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$176.4B
$23.7B
Gross margin (TTM)
1.2%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
-10.4%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
-12.2%
n/a
Sector
Industrials
Healthcare
Industry
Aerospace & Defense
n/a
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Defense, Space & Security (BDS)
Waters instrument systems
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Weak
Moderate
Moat score
61 / 100
66 / 100
Moat domains
Legal, Supply, Demand
Demand, Supply
Last update
2025-12-23
2026-01-09

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Design In QualificationLong Term ContractsService Field NetworkInstalled Base ConsumablesData Workflow Lockin

The Boeing Company strengths

Regulated Standards PipeCapex Knowhow ScaleGovernment Contracting RelationshipsCompliance Advantage

Waters Corporation strengths

Brand TrustSupply Chain Control

Segment mix

The Boeing Company segments

Full profile >

Commercial Airplanes (BCA)

Duopoly

34.3%

Defense, Space & Security (BDS)

Oligopoly

35.8%

Global Services (BGS)

Competitive

29.9%

Waters Corporation segments

Full profile >

Waters instrument systems

Oligopoly

34.9%

Chemistry consumables

Competitive

19.1%

Waters service & software maintenance

Competitive

34%

TA instrument systems & service

Oligopoly

12%

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.