VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

Danaher Corporation vs Ecolab Inc.

Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.

Danaher Corporation

DHR · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$158.8B
Gross margin (TTM)61.4%
Operating margin (TTM)22.2%
Net margin (TTM)14.4%
SectorHealthcare
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-22
Moat score
77/ 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 Danaher Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View DHR analysis

Ecolab Inc.

ECL · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)
Gross margin (TTM)44.3%
Operating margin (TTM)17.3%
Net margin (TTM)12.5%
SectorMaterials
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-01
Moat score
63/ 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 Ecolab Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View ECL analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Danaher Corporation leads (77 / 100 vs 63 / 100 for Ecolab Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Danaher Corporation has 3 segments (41% in Diagnostics); Ecolab Inc. has 4 segments (49.5% in Global Industrial).
  • Moat breadth: Danaher Corporation has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Ecolab Inc. has 7 across 3.

Primary market context

Danaher Corporation

Diagnostics

Market

In vitro diagnostics instruments, consumables, software and services (clinical lab, acute care/POC, pathology, molecular diagnostics)

Geography

Global

Customer

Hospitals, physician offices, reference laboratories, pathology labs, critical care settings

Role

IVD device manufacturer and reagent/test supplier + software/services

Revenue share

41%

Ecolab Inc.

Global Industrial

Market

Industrial water treatment & process chemistry (incl. food & beverage processing and pulp & paper process aids)

Geography

Global

Customer

B2B

Role

formulator + on-site service/optimization provider

Revenue share

49.5%

Side-by-side metrics

Danaher Corporation
Ecolab Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
DHR - New York Stock Exchange
ECL - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$158.8B
n/a
Gross margin (TTM)
61.4%
44.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
22.2%
17.3%
Net margin (TTM)
14.4%
12.5%
Sector
Healthcare
Materials
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Diagnostics
Global Industrial
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
77 / 100
63 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Supply, Demand, Legal
Last update
2025-12-22
2026-01-01

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Installed Base ConsumablesService Field Network

Danaher Corporation strengths

Design In QualificationOperational ExcellenceLearning Curve YieldRegulated Standards PipeSuite Bundling

Ecolab Inc. strengths

Data Workflow LockinCompliance AdvantageLong Term ContractsTraining Org Change CostsBrand Trust

Segment mix

Danaher Corporation segments

Full profile >

Biotechnology

Oligopoly

28.3%

Life Sciences

Oligopoly

30.7%

Diagnostics

Oligopoly

41%

Ecolab Inc. segments

Full profile >

Global Industrial

Oligopoly

49.5%

Global Institutional & Specialty

Oligopoly

34.1%

Global Healthcare & Life Sciences

Oligopoly

9%

Global Pest Elimination

Oligopoly

7.4%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.

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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.