VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

Ecolab Inc. vs Lam Research Corporation

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

Lam Research Corporation

LRCX · NASDAQ

Market cap (USD)
Gross margin (TTM)49.3%
Operating margin (TTM)33%
Net margin (TTM)29.7%
SectorTechnology
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-29
Moat score
73/ 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 Lam Research Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View LRCX analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Lam Research Corporation leads (73 / 100 vs 63 / 100 for Ecolab Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Ecolab Inc. has 4 segments (49.5% in Global Industrial); Lam Research Corporation has 2 segments (62.3% in Systems).
  • Moat breadth: Ecolab Inc. has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Lam Research Corporation 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%

Lam Research Corporation

Systems

Market

Wafer fabrication equipment (etch, deposition, clean and related wafer processing tools)

Geography

Global

Customer

Semiconductor manufacturers (memory, foundry, logic/IDM)

Role

Equipment OEM

Revenue share

62.3%

Side-by-side metrics

Ecolab Inc.
Lam Research Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
ECL - New York Stock Exchange
LRCX - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
n/a
n/a
Gross margin (TTM)
44.3%
49.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
17.3%
33%
Net margin (TTM)
12.5%
29.7%
Sector
Materials
Technology
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Global Industrial
Systems
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
8%-12% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
63 / 100
73 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand, Legal
Demand, Supply
Last update
2026-01-01
2025-12-29

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Service Field NetworkData Workflow LockinInstalled Base Consumables

Ecolab Inc. strengths

Compliance AdvantageLong Term ContractsTraining Org Change CostsBrand Trust

Lam Research Corporation strengths

Design In QualificationCapex Knowhow ScaleLearning Curve Yield

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%

Lam Research Corporation segments

Full profile >

Systems

Oligopoly

62.3%

Customer Support Business Group (CSBG)

Quasi-Monopoly

37.7%

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.