VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Stock Comparison

Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Unilever PLC

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

Unilever PLC

ULVR · London Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)
SectorConsumer
CountryGB
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
65/ 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 Unilever PLC's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View ULVR analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Costco Wholesale Corporation leads (80 / 100 vs 65 / 100 for Unilever PLC).
  • Segment focus: Costco Wholesale Corporation has 2 segments (98.1% in Warehouse club retail); Unilever PLC has 4 segments (25.9% in Personal Care).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Weak vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Costco Wholesale Corporation has 6 moat types across 3 domains; Unilever PLC has 3 across 2.

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%

Unilever PLC

Personal Care

Market

Branded personal care and hygiene (deodorants, skin cleansing, oral care)

Geography

Global

Customer

Consumers (retail, e-commerce)

Role

Brand owner / manufacturer

Revenue share

25.9%

Side-by-side metrics

Costco Wholesale Corporation
Unilever PLC
Ticker / Exchange
COST - Nasdaq Global Select Market
ULVR - London Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$379.8B
n/a
Sector
Consumer
Consumer
HQ country
US
GB
Primary segment
Warehouse club retail
Personal Care
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Weak
Moderate
Moat score
80 / 100
65 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Financial, Demand
Demand, Supply
Last update
2025-12-21
2025-12-30

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Scale Economies Unit CostBrand Trust

Costco Wholesale Corporation strengths

Operational ExcellenceNegative Working CapitalHabit DefaultFloat Prepayment

Unilever PLC strengths

Distribution Control

Segment mix

Costco Wholesale Corporation segments

Full profile >

Warehouse club retail

Oligopoly

98.1%

Membership fees (subscription)

Oligopoly

1.9%

Unilever PLC segments

Full profile >

Beauty & Wellbeing

Oligopoly

25.1%

Personal Care

Oligopoly

25.9%

Home Care

Oligopoly

23.4%

Foods

Competitive

25.5%

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.