VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Stock Comparison

Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Stryker 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

Stryker Corporation

SYK · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$141.3B
SectorHealthcare
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
71/ 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 Stryker Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View SYK analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Costco Wholesale Corporation leads (80 / 100 vs 71 / 100 for Stryker Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Costco Wholesale Corporation has 2 segments (98.1% in Warehouse club retail); Stryker Corporation has 2 segments (59.8% in MedSurg and Neurotechnology).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Weak vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Costco Wholesale Corporation has 6 moat types across 3 domains; Stryker Corporation 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%

Stryker Corporation

MedSurg and Neurotechnology

Market

Hospital medical devices: surgical equipment and navigation, endoscopy and visualization, patient handling and emergency care, neurosurgical and neurovascular devices

Geography

Global

Customer

Hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers; clinicians

Role

Medical device OEM + distributor/service provider

Revenue share

59.8%

Side-by-side metrics

Costco Wholesale Corporation
Stryker Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
COST - Nasdaq Global Select Market
SYK - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$379.8B
$141.3B
Sector
Consumer
Healthcare
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Warehouse club retail
MedSurg and Neurotechnology
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Weak
Moderate
Moat score
80 / 100
71 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Financial, Demand
Supply, Demand, Legal
Last update
2025-12-21
2025-12-30

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand Trust

Costco Wholesale Corporation strengths

Scale Economies Unit CostOperational ExcellenceNegative Working CapitalHabit DefaultFloat Prepayment

Stryker Corporation strengths

Service Field NetworkCompliance AdvantageIP Choke PointTraining Org Change Costs

Segment mix

Costco Wholesale Corporation segments

Full profile >

Warehouse club retail

Oligopoly

98.1%

Membership fees (subscription)

Oligopoly

1.9%

Stryker Corporation segments

Full profile >

MedSurg and Neurotechnology

Oligopoly

59.8%

Orthopaedics

Oligopoly

40.2%

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.