VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Stock Comparison

Costco Wholesale Corporation vs General Dynamics Corporation

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

Costco Wholesale Corporation

COST · Nasdaq Global Select Market

Market cap (USD)$379.8B
SectorConsumer
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-21
Moat score
80/ 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 Costco Wholesale Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View COST analysis

General Dynamics Corporation

GD · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$92.4B
SectorIndustrials
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-29
Moat score
80/ 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 General Dynamics Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View GD analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score: both at 80 / 100.
  • Segment focus: Costco Wholesale Corporation has 2 segments (98.1% in Warehouse club retail); General Dynamics Corporation has 4 segments (30.1% in Marine Systems (Nuclear subs + surface shipbuilding)).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Duopoly. Pricing power: Weak vs Weak.
  • Moat breadth: Costco Wholesale Corporation has 6 moat types across 3 domains; General Dynamics Corporation has 11 across 3.

Primary market context

Costco Wholesale Corporation

Warehouse club retail

Market

Membership warehouse club retail (warehouse clubs, ancillary services, and e-commerce)

Geography

Global

Customer

Households and small businesses

Role

Retailer (membership club)

Revenue share

98.1%

General Dynamics Corporation

Marine Systems (Nuclear subs + surface shipbuilding)

Market

U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine construction and major surface combatant shipbuilding/lifecycle services

Geography

United States

Customer

Government (primarily U.S. Navy)

Role

Prime contractor / shipbuilder / lifecycle services

Revenue share

30.1%

Side-by-side metrics

Costco Wholesale Corporation
General Dynamics Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
COST - Nasdaq Global Select Market
GD - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$379.8B
$92.4B
Sector
Consumer
Industrials
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Warehouse club retail
Marine Systems (Nuclear subs + surface shipbuilding)
Market structure
Oligopoly
Duopoly
Market share
n/a
45%-55% (estimated)
HHI estimate
n/a
5,000
Pricing power
Weak
Weak
Moat score
80 / 100
80 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Financial, Demand
Demand, Supply, Legal
Last update
2025-12-21
2025-12-29

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand Trust

Costco Wholesale Corporation strengths

Scale Economies Unit CostOperational ExcellenceNegative Working CapitalHabit DefaultFloat Prepayment

General Dynamics Corporation strengths

Service Field NetworkRegulated Standards PipeCapex Knowhow ScaleLong Term ContractsGovernment Contracting RelationshipsDesign In QualificationProcurement InertiaCapacity MoatCompliance AdvantageSuite Bundling

Segment mix

Costco Wholesale Corporation segments

Full profile >

Warehouse club retail

Oligopoly

98.1%

Membership fees (subscription)

Oligopoly

1.9%

General Dynamics Corporation segments

Full profile >

Aerospace (Gulfstream + Jet Aviation)

Oligopoly

23.6%

Marine Systems (Nuclear subs + surface shipbuilding)

Duopoly

30.1%

Combat Systems (Land vehicles + munitions)

Oligopoly

18.9%

Technologies (C5ISR + Federal IT)

Competitive

27.5%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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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.