VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

Danaher Corporation vs Fastenal Company

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

Fastenal Company

FAST · Nasdaq Stock Market

Market cap (USD)
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorIndustrials
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-01
Moat score
60/ 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 Fastenal Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View FAST analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Danaher Corporation leads (77 / 100 vs 60 / 100 for Fastenal Company).
  • Segment focus: Danaher Corporation has 3 segments (41% in Diagnostics); Fastenal Company has 3 segments (54.5% in Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Weak.
  • Moat breadth: Danaher Corporation has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Fastenal Company has 5 across 2.

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%

Fastenal Company

Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)

Market

Industrial & construction supplies distribution (MRO/OEM consumables) via local branches

Geography

North America (primary) + select international

Customer

B2B

Role

Distributor / MRO supplier

Revenue share

54.5%

Side-by-side metrics

Danaher Corporation
Fastenal Company
Ticker / Exchange
DHR - New York Stock Exchange
FAST - Nasdaq Stock Market
Market cap (USD)
$158.8B
n/a
Gross margin (TTM)
61.4%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
22.2%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
14.4%
n/a
Sector
Healthcare
Industrials
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Diagnostics
Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Weak
Moat score
77 / 100
60 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Supply, Demand
Last update
2025-12-22
2026-01-01

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Operational Excellence

Danaher Corporation strengths

Installed Base ConsumablesDesign In QualificationService Field NetworkLearning Curve YieldRegulated Standards PipeSuite Bundling

Fastenal Company strengths

Physical Network DensitySwitching Costs GeneralData Workflow LockinScope Economies

Segment mix

Danaher Corporation segments

Full profile >

Biotechnology

Oligopoly

28.3%

Life Sciences

Oligopoly

30.7%

Diagnostics

Oligopoly

41%

Fastenal Company segments

Full profile >

Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)

Competitive

54.5%

Onsite solutions (embedded customer locations)

Competitive

42.4%

Other / non-traditional sales (services & custom manufacturing)

Competitive

3.1%

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.