VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Stock Comparison
Ecolab Inc. vs Paychex, Inc.
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
Ecolab Inc.
ECL · New York Stock Exchange
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Paychex, Inc.
PAYX · NASDAQ Global Select Market
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into Paychex, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View PAYX analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: Paychex, Inc. leads (66 / 100 vs 63 / 100 for Ecolab Inc.).
- Segment focus: Ecolab Inc. has 4 segments (49.5% in Global Industrial); Paychex, Inc. has 3 segments (73% in Management Solutions).
- Moat breadth: Ecolab Inc. has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Paychex, Inc. has 7 across 4.
Primary market context
Ecolab Inc.
Global Industrial
Industrial water treatment & process chemistry (incl. food & beverage processing and pulp & paper process aids)
Global
B2B
formulator + on-site service/optimization provider
49.5%
Paychex, Inc.
Management Solutions
Payroll processing and integrated HCM solutions for SMB and mid-market employers
United States (primarily)
Employers (SMB and mid-market)
HCM SaaS + outsourced payroll/HR service provider
73%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
Ecolab Inc. strengths
Paychex, Inc. strengths
Segment mix
Ecolab Inc. segments
Full profile >Global Industrial
Oligopoly
Global Institutional & Specialty
Oligopoly
Global Healthcare & Life Sciences
Oligopoly
Global Pest Elimination
Oligopoly
Paychex, Inc. segments
Full profile >Management Solutions
Oligopoly
PEO and Insurance Solutions
Competitive
Client funds float (interest on funds held for clients)
Oligopoly
Want the full wide moat stocks list?
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View the moat stocks listLooking for expansion-stage stocks?
Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.
View expansion-stage stocksCuration & 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.