VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Friday, January 2, 2026

Wide Moat Stocks Home My Collections

Stock Comparison

Ecolab Inc. vs O'Reilly Automotive, 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)—
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

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.

ORLY · Nasdaq Global Select Market

Market cap (USD)—
Gross margin (TTM)51.5%
Operating margin (TTM)19.3%
Net margin (TTM)14.2%
SectorConsumer
CountryUS
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 O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View ORLY analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score: both at 63 / 100.
  • Segment focus: Ecolab Inc. has 4 segments (49.5% in Global Industrial); O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. has 2 segments (52% in DIY Aftermarket Retail).
  • Moat breadth: Ecolab Inc. has 7 moat types across 3 domains; O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. has 7 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%

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.

DIY Aftermarket Retail

Market

Specialty automotive aftermarket parts retail (DIY channel)

Geography

United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada

Customer

Consumers (do-it-yourself vehicle owners)

Role

Specialty retailer

Revenue share

52%

Side-by-side metrics

Ecolab Inc.
O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
ECL - New York Stock Exchange
ORLY - Nasdaq Global Select Market
Market cap (USD)
n/a
n/a
Gross margin (TTM)
44.3%
51.5%
Operating margin (TTM)
17.3%
19.3%
Net margin (TTM)
12.5%
14.2%
Sector
Materials
Consumer
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Global Industrial
DIY Aftermarket Retail
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
Supply, Demand
Last update
2026-01-01
2025-12-31

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Service Field NetworkBrand Trust

Ecolab Inc. strengths

Data Workflow LockinCompliance AdvantageInstalled Base ConsumablesLong Term ContractsTraining Org Change Costs

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. strengths

Supply Chain ControlPhysical Network DensityHabit DefaultScope EconomiesProcurement Inertia

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%

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. segments

Full profile >

DIY Aftermarket Retail

Oligopoly

52%

Professional (B2B) Aftermarket Distribution

Competitive

48%

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.