VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Friday, January 2, 2026

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Stock Comparison

Ecolab Inc. vs Melrose Industries 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

Melrose Industries PLC

MRO · London Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$10B
Gross margin (TTM)21.4%
Operating margin (TTM)7.6%
Net margin (TTM)4%
SectorIndustrials
CountryGB
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
77/ 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 Melrose Industries PLC's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View MRO analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Melrose Industries PLC leads (77 / 100 vs 63 / 100 for Ecolab Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Ecolab Inc. has 4 segments (49.5% in Global Industrial); Melrose Industries PLC has 2 segments (57.9% in Structures).
  • Moat breadth: Ecolab Inc. has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Melrose Industries PLC has 5 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%

Melrose Industries PLC

Structures

Market

Aerostructures and aircraft electrical wiring systems (EWIS)

Geography

Global

Customer

Airframe OEMs; defence primes

Role

Tier-1 aerospace supplier

Revenue share

57.9%

Side-by-side metrics

Ecolab Inc.
Melrose Industries PLC
Ticker / Exchange
ECL - New York Stock Exchange
MRO - London Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$10B
Gross margin (TTM)
44.3%
21.4%
Operating margin (TTM)
17.3%
7.6%
Net margin (TTM)
12.5%
4%
Sector
Materials
Industrials
HQ country
US
GB
Primary segment
Global Industrial
Structures
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
63 / 100
77 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand, Legal
Demand, Supply
Last update
2026-01-01
2025-12-28

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Service Field NetworkLong Term Contracts

Ecolab Inc. strengths

Data Workflow LockinCompliance AdvantageInstalled Base ConsumablesTraining Org Change CostsBrand Trust

Melrose Industries PLC strengths

Design In QualificationCapex Knowhow ScaleCapacity Moat

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%

Melrose Industries PLC segments

Full profile >

Engines

Oligopoly

42.1%

Structures

Oligopoly

57.9%

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.