VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

Ecolab Inc. vs Medtronic plc

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

Medtronic plc

MDT · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$123.8B
Gross margin (TTM)62.3%
Operating margin (TTM)17.9%
Net margin (TTM)13.7%
SectorHealthcare
CountryIE
Data as of2025-12-31
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 Medtronic plc's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View MDT analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score: both at 63 / 100.
  • Segment focus: Ecolab Inc. has 4 segments (49.5% in Global Industrial); Medtronic plc has 4 segments (37.2% in Cardiovascular Portfolio).
  • Moat breadth: Ecolab Inc. has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Medtronic plc has 9 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%

Medtronic plc

Cardiovascular Portfolio

Market

Cardiovascular medical devices (cardiac rhythm management, electrophysiology/ablation, structural heart, coronary & peripheral vascular)

Geography

Global

Customer

Hospitals, cath labs, electrophysiologists, cardiologists, cardiac & vascular surgeons

Role

Device OEM + procedure support + remote monitoring software/services

Revenue share

37.2%

Side-by-side metrics

Ecolab Inc.
Medtronic plc
Ticker / Exchange
ECL - New York Stock Exchange
MDT - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$123.8B
Gross margin (TTM)
44.3%
62.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
17.3%
17.9%
Net margin (TTM)
12.5%
13.7%
Sector
Materials
Healthcare
HQ country
US
IE
Primary segment
Global Industrial
Cardiovascular Portfolio
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
63 / 100
63 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand, Legal
Legal, Demand, Network
Last update
2026-01-01
2025-12-31

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Data Workflow LockinCompliance AdvantageInstalled Base Consumables

Ecolab Inc. strengths

Service Field NetworkLong Term ContractsTraining Org Change CostsBrand Trust

Medtronic plc strengths

Regulated Standards PipeDesign In QualificationEcosystem ComplementsIP Choke PointProcurement InertiaSuite Bundling

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%

Medtronic plc segments

Full profile >

Cardiovascular Portfolio

Oligopoly

37.2%

Neuroscience Portfolio

Oligopoly

29.4%

Medical Surgical Portfolio

Competitive

25.1%

Diabetes Operating Unit

Oligopoly

8.2%

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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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.