VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

Brown & Brown, Inc. vs The Sherwin-Williams Company

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

Brown & Brown, Inc.

BRO · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$27.5B
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorFinancials
IndustryInsurance - Brokers
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-09
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 Brown & Brown, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View BRO analysis

The Sherwin-Williams Company

SHW · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$87.7B
Gross margin (TTM)48.9%
Operating margin (TTM)15.9%
Net margin (TTM)11.1%
SectorMaterials
IndustryChemicals - Specialty
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
84/ 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 Sherwin-Williams Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View SHW analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: The Sherwin-Williams Company leads (84 / 100 vs 61 / 100 for Brown & Brown, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Brown & Brown, Inc. has 2 segments (59% in Retail); The Sherwin-Williams Company has 3 segments (57.1% in Paint Stores Group).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: Brown & Brown, Inc. has 5 moat types across 3 domains; The Sherwin-Williams Company has 6 across 3.

Primary market context

Brown & Brown, Inc.

Retail

Market

Retail insurance brokerage and agency services (commercial P&C, employee benefits, personal lines) plus dealer F&I risk-mitigating products

Geography

Primarily United States; also selected international operations

Customer

Commercial (SMB to mid-market), public/quasi-public entities, professional and individual insured customers; auto/RV dealers for F&I

Role

Insurance intermediary (agent/broker) and risk solutions advisor

Revenue share

59%

The Sherwin-Williams Company

Paint Stores Group

Market

Company-operated paint & coatings retail (architectural + related products)

Geography

United States, Canada, Caribbean

Customer

Professional contractors and DIY homeowners

Role

Manufacturer-owned retail / distribution

Revenue share

57.1%

Side-by-side metrics

Brown & Brown, Inc.
The Sherwin-Williams Company
Ticker / Exchange
BRO - New York Stock Exchange
SHW - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$27.5B
$87.7B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
48.9%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
15.9%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
11.1%
Sector
Financials
Materials
Industry
Insurance - Brokers
Chemicals - Specialty
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Retail
Paint Stores Group
Market structure
Competitive
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
n/a
69.4% (estimated)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
61 / 100
84 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Supply, Demand, Legal
Last update
2026-01-09
2025-12-31

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand Trust

Brown & Brown, Inc. strengths

Procurement InertiaScale Economies Unit CostContractual ExclusivityPreferential Input Access

The Sherwin-Williams Company strengths

Distribution ControlService Field NetworkScope EconomiesSwitching Costs GeneralCompliance Advantage

Segment mix

Brown & Brown, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Retail

Competitive

59%

Specialty Distribution

Oligopoly

41%

The Sherwin-Williams Company segments

Full profile >

Paint Stores Group

Quasi-Monopoly

57.1%

Consumer Brands Group

Oligopoly

13.5%

Performance Coatings Group

Oligopoly

29.4%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.

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Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.

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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.