VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Stock Comparison

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. vs Watsco, Inc.

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

Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

CBOE · Cboe BZX

Market cap (USD)$26.4B
Gross margin (TTM)48.2%
Operating margin (TTM)29.6%
Net margin (TTM)21.3%
SectorFinancials
IndustryFinancial - Data & Stock Exchanges
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
76/ 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 Cboe Global Markets, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View CBOE analysis

Watsco, Inc.

WSO · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$14.4B
Gross margin (TTM)28.3%
Operating margin (TTM)10.2%
Net margin (TTM)7.4%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryIndustrial - Distribution
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-05
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 Watsco, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View WSO analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Cboe Global Markets, Inc. leads (76 / 100 vs 72 / 100 for Watsco, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Cboe Global Markets, Inc. has 5 segments (60.8% in Options); Watsco, Inc. has 1 segment (100% in HVAC/R Distribution).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Cboe Global Markets, Inc. has 8 moat types across 4 domains; Watsco, Inc. has 4 across 3.

Primary market context

Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

Options

Market

U.S. listed options exchanges (multi-listed + proprietary index options)

Geography

United States

Customer

Broker-dealers, market makers, institutional investors, retail order-flow intermediaries

Role

Exchange operator (SRO) + derivatives listing venue + market data provider

Revenue share

60.8%

Watsco, Inc.

HVAC/R Distribution

Market

HVAC/R equipment, parts and supplies distribution

Geography

North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico; export to Latin America/Caribbean)

Customer

Licensed HVAC and refrigeration contractors (residential & commercial)

Role

Wholesale distributor

Revenue share

100%

Side-by-side metrics

Cboe Global Markets, Inc.
Watsco, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
CBOE - Cboe BZX
WSO - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$26.4B
$14.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
48.2%
28.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
29.6%
10.2%
Net margin (TTM)
21.3%
7.4%
Sector
Financials
Industrials
Industry
Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges
Industrial - Distribution
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Options
HVAC/R Distribution
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
29%-32% (reported)
9%-12% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
76 / 100
72 / 100
Moat domains
Legal, Network, Supply, Demand
Supply, Legal, Demand
Last update
2025-12-31
2026-01-05

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Contractual Exclusivity

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. strengths

Two Sided NetworkCapex Knowhow ScaleRegulated Standards PipeSwitching Costs GeneralClearing SettlementIP Choke PointDe Facto Standard

Watsco, Inc. strengths

Physical Network DensityScale Economies Unit CostData Workflow Lockin

Segment mix

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Options

Oligopoly

60.8%

North American Equities

Competitive

18.5%

Europe and Asia Pacific

Oligopoly

10.6%

Futures

Quasi-Monopoly

6.3%

Global FX

Competitive

3.7%

Watsco, Inc. segments

Full profile >

HVAC/R Distribution

Competitive

100%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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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.