VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

Danaher Corporation vs Waters Corporation

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)$170.8B
Gross margin (TTM)61.4%
Operating margin (TTM)22.2%
Net margin (TTM)14.4%
SectorHealthcare
IndustryMedical - Diagnostics & Research
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

Waters Corporation

WAT · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$23.7B
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorHealthcare
Industry
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-09
Moat score
66/ 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 Waters Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View WAT analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Danaher Corporation leads (77 / 100 vs 66 / 100 for Waters Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Danaher Corporation has 3 segments (41% in Diagnostics); Waters Corporation has 4 segments (34.9% in Waters instrument systems).
  • Moat breadth: Danaher Corporation has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Waters Corporation has 7 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%

Waters Corporation

Waters instrument systems

Market

Liquid chromatography (LC/UPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS) analytical instrument systems (including LC-MS workflows and instrument control/data system software)

Geography

Global

Customer

Pharma/biotech, industrial, academic and government laboratories

Role

OEM + software/platform provider

Revenue share

34.9%

Side-by-side metrics

Danaher Corporation
Waters Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
DHR - New York Stock Exchange
WAT - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$170.8B
$23.7B
Gross margin (TTM)
61.4%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
22.2%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
14.4%
n/a
Sector
Healthcare
Healthcare
Industry
Medical - Diagnostics & Research
n/a
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Diagnostics
Waters instrument systems
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
77 / 100
66 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Demand, Supply
Last update
2025-12-22
2026-01-09

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Installed Base ConsumablesDesign In QualificationService Field Network

Danaher Corporation strengths

Operational ExcellenceLearning Curve YieldRegulated Standards PipeSuite Bundling

Waters Corporation strengths

Data Workflow LockinBrand TrustSupply Chain ControlLong Term Contracts

Segment mix

Danaher Corporation segments

Full profile >

Biotechnology

Oligopoly

28.3%

Life Sciences

Oligopoly

30.7%

Diagnostics

Oligopoly

41%

Waters Corporation segments

Full profile >

Waters instrument systems

Oligopoly

34.9%

Chemistry consumables

Competitive

19.1%

Waters service & software maintenance

Competitive

34%

TA instrument systems & service

Oligopoly

12%

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.