VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Live Nation Entertainment, 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)$388.7B
Gross margin (TTM)12.9%
Operating margin (TTM)3.8%
Net margin (TTM)3%
SectorConsumer
IndustryDiscount Stores
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

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.

LYV · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$33.7B
Gross margin (TTM)46.2%
Operating margin (TTM)4.7%
Net margin (TTM)3.7%
SectorCommunication Services
IndustryEntertainment
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-04
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 Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View LYV analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. leads (84 / 100 vs 80 / 100 for Costco Wholesale Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Costco Wholesale Corporation has 2 segments (98.1% in Warehouse club retail); Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. has 3 segments (82.2% in Concerts).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Weak vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Costco Wholesale Corporation has 6 moat types across 3 domains; Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. has 6 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%

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.

Concerts

Market

Live music concert promotion, festival production, and music venue operations

Geography

Global

Customer

Artists/agents (supply) and fans (end-users); venues and festivals; corporate partners

Role

Promoter + venue operator

Revenue share

82.2%

Side-by-side metrics

Costco Wholesale Corporation
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
COST - Nasdaq Global Select Market
LYV - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$388.7B
$33.7B
Gross margin (TTM)
12.9%
46.2%
Operating margin (TTM)
3.8%
4.7%
Net margin (TTM)
3%
3.7%
Sector
Consumer
Communication Services
Industry
Discount Stores
Entertainment
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Warehouse club retail
Concerts
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
55%-65% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
3,600
Pricing power
Weak
Moderate
Moat score
80 / 100
84 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Financial, Demand
Supply, Demand, Network
Last update
2025-12-21
2026-01-04

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

Costco Wholesale Corporation strengths

Scale Economies Unit CostOperational ExcellenceNegative Working CapitalBrand TrustHabit DefaultFloat Prepayment

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. strengths

Physical Network DensityService Field NetworkLong Term ContractsTwo Sided NetworkData Workflow LockinScope Economies

Segment mix

Costco Wholesale Corporation segments

Full profile >

Warehouse club retail

Oligopoly

98.1%

Membership fees (subscription)

Oligopoly

1.9%

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Concerts

Oligopoly

82.2%

Ticketing

Quasi-Monopoly

12.9%

Sponsorship & Advertising

Competitive

5.2%

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.