VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Wide Moat StocksExpansion-Stage Stocks Home My Collections

Stock Comparison

Duolingo, Inc. vs James Hardie Industries plc

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

James Hardie Industries plc

JHX · ASX

Market cap (USD)$18.2B
Gross margin (TTM)36.3%
Operating margin (TTM)13.6%
Net margin (TTM)4.7%
SectorMaterials
IndustryConstruction Materials
CountryIE
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
74/ 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 James Hardie Industries plc's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View JHX analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: James Hardie Industries plc leads (74 / 100 vs 68 / 100 for Duolingo, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Duolingo, Inc. has 2 segments (93.9% in Duolingo App); James Hardie Industries plc has 4 segments (64.2% in Siding & Trim).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Duolingo, Inc. has 6 moat types across 3 domains; James Hardie Industries plc has 5 across 2.

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%

James Hardie Industries plc

Siding & Trim

Market

North American fiber cement exterior siding & trim (plus related exterior products)

Geography

North America (primarily U.S. and Canada)

Customer

Homebuilders, contractors, remodelers, dealers/distributors, and retailers

Role

Manufacturer / branded building-products supplier

Revenue share

64.2%

Side-by-side metrics

Duolingo, Inc.
James Hardie Industries plc
Ticker / Exchange
DUOL - NASDAQ
JHX - ASX
Market cap (USD)
$8.6B
$18.2B
Gross margin (TTM)
72%
36.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
11%
13.6%
Net margin (TTM)
40%
4.7%
Sector
Technology
Materials
Industry
Software - Application
Construction Materials
HQ country
US
IE
Primary segment
Duolingo App
Siding & Trim
Market structure
Competitive
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
n/a
88%-92% (estimated)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
68 / 100
74 / 100
Moat domains
Network, Demand, Supply
Supply, Demand
Last update
2026-01-06
2025-12-28

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand TrustOperational Excellence

Duolingo, Inc. strengths

Data Network EffectsHabit DefaultScope EconomiesDesign In Qualification

James Hardie Industries plc strengths

Capex Knowhow ScaleLong Term ContractsDistribution Control

Segment mix

Duolingo, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Duolingo App

Competitive

93.9%

Duolingo English Test

Oligopoly

6.1%

James Hardie Industries plc segments

Full profile >

Siding & Trim

Quasi-Monopoly

64.2%

Deck, Rail & Accessories

Oligopoly

11.7%

Australia & New Zealand

Oligopoly

11.6%

Europe

Competitive

12.5%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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

View the moat stocks list

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.