VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 9, 2026

Stock Comparison

Cochlear Limited vs James Hardie Industries plc

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

Cochlear Limited

COH · ASX

Market cap (USD)$17B
Gross margin (TTM)74.5%
Operating margin (TTM)22.7%
Net margin (TTM)16.2%
SectorHealthcare
IndustryMedical - Devices
CountryAU
Data as of2026-01-04
Moat score
81/ 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 Cochlear Limited's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View COH analysis

James Hardie Industries plc

JHX · ASX

Market cap (USD)$18.2B
Gross margin (TTM)36.3%
Operating margin (TTM)13.6%
Net margin (TTM)4.7%
SectorMaterials
IndustryConstruction Materials
CountryIE
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
74/ 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 James Hardie Industries plc's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View JHX analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Cochlear Limited leads (81 / 100 vs 74 / 100 for James Hardie Industries plc).
  • Segment focus: Cochlear Limited has 3 segments (62.4% in Cochlear Implants); James Hardie Industries plc has 4 segments (64.2% in Siding & Trim).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Cochlear Limited has 8 moat types across 3 domains; James Hardie Industries plc has 5 across 2.

Primary market context

Cochlear Limited

Cochlear Implants

Market

Cochlear implant systems (internal implant + external sound processors) for severe-to-profound hearing loss

Geography

Global

Customer

Hospitals/ENT clinics and audiology programs (providers) serving implant candidates/recipients; reimbursed by public/private payers

Role

Medical device OEM / platform owner (implant + processor + fitting software + clinical support)

Revenue share

62.4%

James Hardie Industries plc

Siding & Trim

Market

North American fiber cement exterior siding & trim (plus related exterior products)

Geography

North America (primarily U.S. and Canada)

Customer

Homebuilders, contractors, remodelers, dealers/distributors, and retailers

Role

Manufacturer / branded building-products supplier

Revenue share

64.2%

Side-by-side metrics

Cochlear Limited
James Hardie Industries plc
Ticker / Exchange
COH - ASX
JHX - ASX
Market cap (USD)
$17B
$18.2B
Gross margin (TTM)
74.5%
36.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
22.7%
13.6%
Net margin (TTM)
16.2%
4.7%
Sector
Healthcare
Materials
Industry
Medical - Devices
Construction Materials
HQ country
AU
IE
Primary segment
Cochlear Implants
Siding & Trim
Market structure
Oligopoly
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
60%-65% (reported)
88%-92% (estimated)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
81 / 100
74 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Legal, Supply
Supply, Demand
Last update
2026-01-04
2025-12-28

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand TrustCapex Knowhow Scale

Cochlear Limited strengths

Compliance AdvantageIP Choke PointService Field NetworkInstalled Base ConsumablesFormat Lock InData Workflow Lockin

James Hardie Industries plc strengths

Long Term ContractsOperational ExcellenceDistribution Control

Segment mix

Cochlear Limited segments

Full profile >

Cochlear Implants

Oligopoly

62.4%

Services

Monopoly

25.9%

Acoustics

Oligopoly

11.7%

James Hardie Industries plc segments

Full profile >

Siding & Trim

Quasi-Monopoly

64.2%

Deck, Rail & Accessories

Oligopoly

11.7%

Australia & New Zealand

Oligopoly

11.6%

Europe

Competitive

12.5%

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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Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

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.