VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

Brown-Forman Corporation vs Ecolab Inc.

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

Brown-Forman Corporation

BF.B · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorConsumer
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-25
Moat score
72/ 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 Brown-Forman Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View BF.B 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: Brown-Forman Corporation leads (72 / 100 vs 63 / 100 for Ecolab Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Brown-Forman Corporation has 5 segments (71.1% in Whiskey); Ecolab Inc. has 4 segments (49.5% in Global Industrial).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Brown-Forman Corporation has 4 moat types across 2 domains; Ecolab Inc. has 7 across 3.

Primary market context

Brown-Forman Corporation

Whiskey

Market

Premium-and-above whiskey spirits (American whiskey and import whiskies)

Geography

Global

Customer

Consumer (off-premise and on-premise via distributors/retailers)

Role

Brand owner / distiller / marketer

Revenue share

71.1%

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

Brown-Forman Corporation
Ecolab Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
BF.B - New York Stock Exchange
ECL - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
n/a
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
44.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
17.3%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
12.5%
Sector
Consumer
Materials
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Whiskey
Global Industrial
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Moderate
Moat score
72 / 100
63 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Supply, Demand, Legal
Last update
2025-12-25
2026-01-01

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand Trust

Brown-Forman Corporation strengths

Distribution ControlCapacity MoatScope Economies

Ecolab Inc. strengths

Service Field NetworkData Workflow LockinCompliance AdvantageInstalled Base ConsumablesLong Term ContractsTraining Org Change Costs

Segment mix

Brown-Forman Corporation segments

Full profile >

Whiskey

Oligopoly

71.1%

Ready-to-Drink (RTD/RTP)

Competitive

12.4%

Tequila

Oligopoly

6.6%

Rest of Portfolio (Other Branded Spirits)

Competitive

7.4%

Non-branded and Bulk

Competitive

2.6%

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%

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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.