VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Stock Comparison
Costco Wholesale Corporation vs The Sherwin-Williams Company
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
Costco Wholesale Corporation
COST · Nasdaq Global Select Market
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 analysisThe Sherwin-Williams Company
SHW · New York Stock Exchange
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 analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: The Sherwin-Williams Company leads (84 / 100 vs 80 / 100 for Costco Wholesale Corporation).
- Segment focus: Costco Wholesale Corporation has 2 segments (98.1% in Warehouse club retail); The Sherwin-Williams Company has 3 segments (57.1% in Paint Stores Group).
- Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Weak vs Strong.
- Moat breadth: Costco Wholesale Corporation has 6 moat types across 3 domains; The Sherwin-Williams Company has 6 across 3.
Primary market context
Costco Wholesale Corporation
Warehouse club retail
Membership warehouse club retail (warehouse clubs, ancillary services, and e-commerce)
Global
Households and small businesses
Retailer (membership club)
98.1%
The Sherwin-Williams Company
Paint Stores Group
Company-operated paint & coatings retail (architectural + related products)
United States, Canada, Caribbean
Professional contractors and DIY homeowners
Manufacturer-owned retail / distribution
57.1%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
Costco Wholesale Corporation strengths
The Sherwin-Williams Company strengths
Segment mix
Costco Wholesale Corporation segments
Full profile >Warehouse club retail
Oligopoly
Membership fees (subscription)
Oligopoly
The Sherwin-Williams Company segments
Full profile >Paint Stores Group
Quasi-Monopoly
Consumer Brands Group
Oligopoly
Performance Coatings Group
Oligopoly
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 listCuration & 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.