VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

Ecolab Inc. vs Johnson & Johnson

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)
Gross margin (TTM)44.3%
Operating margin (TTM)17.3%
Net margin (TTM)12.5%
SectorMaterials
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

Johnson & Johnson

JNJ · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)
Gross margin (TTM)68.1%
Operating margin (TTM)26.1%
Net margin (TTM)27.3%
SectorHealthcare
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-21
Moat score
61/ 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 Johnson & Johnson's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View JNJ analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Ecolab Inc. leads (63 / 100 vs 61 / 100 for Johnson & Johnson).
  • Segment focus: Ecolab Inc. has 4 segments (49.5% in Global Industrial); Johnson & Johnson has 2 segments (64.1% in Innovative Medicine).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Ecolab Inc. has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Johnson & Johnson has 5 across 3.

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%

Johnson & Johnson

Innovative Medicine

Market

Branded prescription pharmaceuticals (biopharma)

Geography

Global

Customer

Wholesalers, hospitals, retailers, healthcare professionals, payers

Role

Drug discovery, development, manufacturing, commercialization

Revenue share

64.1%

Side-by-side metrics

Ecolab Inc.
Johnson & Johnson
Ticker / Exchange
ECL - New York Stock Exchange
JNJ - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
n/a
Gross margin (TTM)
44.3%
68.1%
Operating margin (TTM)
17.3%
26.1%
Net margin (TTM)
12.5%
27.3%
Sector
Materials
Healthcare
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Global Industrial
Innovative Medicine
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
63 / 100
61 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand, Legal
Legal, Demand, Supply
Last update
2026-01-01
2025-12-21

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Service Field NetworkTraining Org Change CostsBrand Trust

Ecolab Inc. strengths

Data Workflow LockinCompliance AdvantageInstalled Base ConsumablesLong Term Contracts

Johnson & Johnson strengths

IP Choke PointRegulated Standards Pipe

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%

Johnson & Johnson segments

Full profile >

Innovative Medicine

Competitive

64.1%

MedTech

Oligopoly

35.9%

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

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.