VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

Duolingo, Inc. vs Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.

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

Duolingo, Inc.

DUOL · NASDAQ

Market cap (USD)$8.6B
Gross margin (TTM)72%
Operating margin (TTM)11%
Net margin (TTM)40%
SectorTechnology
IndustrySoftware - Application
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-06
Moat score
68/ 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 Duolingo, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View DUOL analysis

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.

HLT · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$66.4B
Gross margin (TTM)27.8%
Operating margin (TTM)22%
Net margin (TTM)14.2%
SectorConsumer
IndustryTravel Lodging
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-01
Moat score
72/ 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 Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View HLT analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. leads (72 / 100 vs 68 / 100 for Duolingo, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Duolingo, Inc. has 2 segments (93.9% in Duolingo App); Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. has 2 segments (72.7% in Management and Franchise).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Duolingo, Inc. has 6 moat types across 3 domains; Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. has 5 across 3.

Primary market context

Duolingo, Inc.

Duolingo App

Market

Mobile-first, freemium language learning and adjacent subjects (math, music)

Geography

Global

Customer

Consumers (end-users); advertisers

Role

Digital learning platform / content & software publisher

Revenue share

93.9%

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.

Management and Franchise

Market

Hotel management, franchising and brand licensing

Geography

Global

Customer

Third-party hotel owners / franchisees and strategic partners

Role

Franchisor / manager / IP licensor

Revenue share

72.7%

Side-by-side metrics

Duolingo, Inc.
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
DUOL - NASDAQ
HLT - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$8.6B
$66.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
72%
27.8%
Operating margin (TTM)
11%
22%
Net margin (TTM)
40%
14.2%
Sector
Technology
Consumer
Industry
Software - Application
Travel Lodging
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Duolingo App
Management and Franchise
Market structure
Competitive
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
13%-15% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
1,350
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
68 / 100
72 / 100
Moat domains
Network, Demand, Supply
Network, Demand, Supply
Last update
2026-01-06
2026-01-01

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand Trust

Duolingo, Inc. strengths

Data Network EffectsHabit DefaultScope EconomiesDesign In QualificationOperational Excellence

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. strengths

Two Sided NetworkLong Term ContractsScale Economies Unit CostEcosystem Complements

Segment mix

Duolingo, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Duolingo App

Competitive

93.9%

Duolingo English Test

Oligopoly

6.1%

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. segments

Full profile >

Management and Franchise

Oligopoly

72.7%

Ownership

Competitive

27.3%

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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Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.

View expansion-stage stocks

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.