VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

Ecolab Inc. vs Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc.

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

Ecolab Inc.

ECL · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$77B
Gross margin (TTM)44.3%
Operating margin (TTM)17.3%
Net margin (TTM)12.5%
SectorMaterials
IndustryChemicals - Specialty
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

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc.

FND · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$7.8B
Gross margin (TTM)42.4%
Operating margin (TTM)6.1%
Net margin (TTM)4.7%
SectorConsumer
IndustryHome Improvement
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-08
Moat score
55/ 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 Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View FND analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Ecolab Inc. leads (63 / 100 vs 55 / 100 for Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Ecolab Inc. has 4 segments (49.5% in Global Industrial); Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. has 2 segments (95% in Floor & Decor Retail).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Weak.
  • Moat breadth: Ecolab Inc. has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. has 6 across 2.

Primary market context

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%

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc.

Floor & Decor Retail

Market

U.S. retail hard-surface flooring and accessories

Geography

United States

Customer

Homeowners (DIY/BIY) and professional installers (Pros)

Role

Specialty retailer (warehouse-format stores + e-commerce)

Revenue share

95%

Side-by-side metrics

Ecolab Inc.
Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
ECL - New York Stock Exchange
FND - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$77B
$7.8B
Gross margin (TTM)
44.3%
42.4%
Operating margin (TTM)
17.3%
6.1%
Net margin (TTM)
12.5%
4.7%
Sector
Materials
Consumer
Industry
Chemicals - Specialty
Home Improvement
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Global Industrial
Floor & Decor Retail
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
9%-11% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Weak
Moat score
63 / 100
55 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand, Legal
Supply, Demand
Last update
2026-01-01
2026-01-08

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand Trust

Ecolab Inc. strengths

Service Field NetworkData Workflow LockinCompliance AdvantageInstalled Base ConsumablesLong Term ContractsTraining Org Change Costs

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. strengths

Scale Economies Unit CostDistribution ControlScope EconomiesProcurement InertiaOperational Excellence

Segment mix

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%

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Floor & Decor Retail

Competitive

95%

Spartan (Commercial surfaces)

Competitive

5%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

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

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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.