VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 9, 2026

Stock Comparison

Cochlear Limited vs The Sherwin-Williams Company

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

The Sherwin-Williams Company

SHW · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$82.5B
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 81 / 100 for Cochlear Limited).
  • Segment focus: Cochlear Limited has 3 segments (62.4% in Cochlear Implants); The Sherwin-Williams Company has 3 segments (57.1% in Paint Stores Group).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: Cochlear Limited has 8 moat types across 3 domains; The Sherwin-Williams Company has 6 across 3.

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%

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

Cochlear Limited
The Sherwin-Williams Company
Ticker / Exchange
COH - ASX
SHW - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$17B
$82.5B
Gross margin (TTM)
74.5%
48.9%
Operating margin (TTM)
22.7%
15.9%
Net margin (TTM)
16.2%
11.1%
Sector
Healthcare
Materials
Industry
Medical - Devices
Chemicals - Specialty
HQ country
AU
US
Primary segment
Cochlear Implants
Paint Stores Group
Market structure
Oligopoly
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
60%-65% (reported)
69.4% (estimated)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
81 / 100
84 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Legal, Supply
Supply, Demand, Legal
Last update
2026-01-04
2025-12-31

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand TrustCompliance AdvantageService Field Network

Cochlear Limited strengths

Capex Knowhow ScaleIP Choke PointInstalled Base ConsumablesFormat Lock InData Workflow Lockin

The Sherwin-Williams Company strengths

Distribution ControlScope EconomiesSwitching Costs General

Segment mix

Cochlear Limited segments

Full profile >

Cochlear Implants

Oligopoly

62.4%

Services

Monopoly

25.9%

Acoustics

Oligopoly

11.7%

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?

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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.