VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Stock Comparison

Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Marriott International, 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

Marriott International, Inc.

MAR · NASDAQ

Market cap (USD)
SectorConsumer
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-01
Moat score
72/ 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 Marriott International, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View MAR analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Costco Wholesale Corporation leads (80 / 100 vs 72 / 100 for Marriott International, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Costco Wholesale Corporation has 2 segments (98.1% in Warehouse club retail); Marriott International, Inc. has 2 segments.
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Weak vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Costco Wholesale Corporation has 6 moat types across 3 domains; Marriott International, Inc. has 4 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%

Marriott International, Inc.

U.S. & Canada Lodging Platform

Market

Branded hotel franchising & management platform (including loyalty and reservation systems)

Geography

U.S. & Canada

Customer

Two-sided: travelers (guests) and hotel owners (franchisees/owners of managed properties)

Role

Brand owner / franchisor / manager; operator of reservation, loyalty, and marketing systems

Side-by-side metrics

Costco Wholesale Corporation
Marriott International, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
COST - Nasdaq Global Select Market
MAR - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$379.8B
n/a
Sector
Consumer
Consumer
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Warehouse club retail
U.S. & Canada Lodging Platform
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
16%-18% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Weak
Moderate
Moat score
80 / 100
72 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Financial, Demand
Demand, Network, Supply
Last update
2025-12-21
2026-01-01

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand Trust

Costco Wholesale Corporation strengths

Scale Economies Unit CostOperational ExcellenceNegative Working CapitalHabit DefaultFloat Prepayment

Marriott International, Inc. strengths

Two Sided NetworkDistribution ControlLong Term Contracts

Segment mix

Costco Wholesale Corporation segments

Full profile >

Warehouse club retail

Oligopoly

98.1%

Membership fees (subscription)

Oligopoly

1.9%

Marriott International, Inc. segments

Full profile >

U.S. & Canada Lodging Platform

Competitive

n/a

International Lodging Platform

Competitive

n/a

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.