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 The Sherwin-Williams Company

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

The Sherwin-Williams Company

SHW · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$80.4B
Gross margin (TTM)48.9%
Operating margin (TTM)15.9%
Net margin (TTM)11.1%
SectorMaterials
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
84/ 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 The Sherwin-Williams Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View SHW analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: The Sherwin-Williams Company leads (84 / 100 vs 63 / 100 for Ecolab Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Ecolab Inc. has 4 segments (49.5% in Global Industrial); The Sherwin-Williams Company has 3 segments (57.1% in Paint Stores Group).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: Ecolab Inc. has 7 moat types across 3 domains; The Sherwin-Williams Company has 6 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%

The Sherwin-Williams Company

Paint Stores Group

Market

Company-operated paint & coatings retail (architectural + related products)

Geography

United States, Canada, Caribbean

Customer

Professional contractors and DIY homeowners

Role

Manufacturer-owned retail / distribution

Revenue share

57.1%

Side-by-side metrics

Ecolab Inc.
The Sherwin-Williams Company
Ticker / Exchange
ECL - New York Stock Exchange
SHW - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$80.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
44.3%
48.9%
Operating margin (TTM)
17.3%
15.9%
Net margin (TTM)
12.5%
11.1%
Sector
Materials
Materials
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Global Industrial
Paint Stores Group
Market structure
Oligopoly
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
n/a
69.4% (estimated)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
63 / 100
84 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand, Legal
Supply, Demand, Legal
Last update
2026-01-01
2025-12-31

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Service Field NetworkCompliance AdvantageBrand Trust

Ecolab Inc. strengths

Data Workflow LockinInstalled Base ConsumablesLong Term ContractsTraining Org Change Costs

The Sherwin-Williams Company strengths

Distribution ControlScope EconomiesSwitching Costs General

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%

The Sherwin-Williams Company segments

Full profile >

Paint Stores Group

Quasi-Monopoly

57.1%

Consumer Brands Group

Oligopoly

13.5%

Performance Coatings Group

Oligopoly

29.4%

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.