VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Stock Comparison

Costco Wholesale Corporation vs IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.

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

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.

IDXX · NASDAQ

Market cap (USD)$54.9B
SectorHealthcare
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
82/ 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 IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View IDXX analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. leads (82 / 100 vs 80 / 100 for Costco Wholesale Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Costco Wholesale Corporation has 2 segments (98.1% in Warehouse club retail); IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. has 4 segments (91.7% in Companion Animal Group).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Weak vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: Costco Wholesale Corporation has 6 moat types across 3 domains; IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. has 5 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%

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.

Companion Animal Group

Market

Veterinary diagnostics and practice management software for companion animals

Geography

Global

Customer

Veterinary practices, corporate veterinary groups, and reference laboratories

Role

Diagnostics platform owner (in-clinic instruments + consumables) and reference lab/service provider; practice management software provider

Revenue share

91.7%

Side-by-side metrics

Costco Wholesale Corporation
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
COST - Nasdaq Global Select Market
IDXX - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$379.8B
$54.9B
Sector
Consumer
Healthcare
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Warehouse club retail
Companion Animal Group
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Weak
Strong
Moat score
80 / 100
82 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Financial, Demand
Demand, Supply, Legal
Last update
2025-12-21
2025-12-31

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

Costco Wholesale Corporation strengths

Scale Economies Unit CostOperational ExcellenceNegative Working CapitalBrand TrustHabit DefaultFloat Prepayment

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. strengths

Installed Base ConsumablesData Workflow LockinPhysical Network DensityRegulated Standards PipeCompliance Advantage

Segment mix

Costco Wholesale Corporation segments

Full profile >

Warehouse club retail

Oligopoly

98.1%

Membership fees (subscription)

Oligopoly

1.9%

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Companion Animal Group

Oligopoly

91.7%

Water Quality Products

Oligopoly

4.7%

Livestock, Poultry and Dairy

Competitive

3.1%

Other (OPTI Medical and out-licensing)

Competitive

0.4%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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

View the moat stocks list

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.