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 United Rentals, 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

United Rentals, Inc.

URI · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$51.5B
Gross margin (TTM)35.9%
Operating margin (TTM)25.1%
Net margin (TTM)15.8%
SectorIndustrials
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 United Rentals, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View URI analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score: both at 63 / 100.
  • Segment focus: Ecolab Inc. has 4 segments (49.5% in Global Industrial); United Rentals, Inc. has 2 segments (70.7% in General Rentals).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Ecolab Inc. has 7 moat types across 3 domains; United Rentals, Inc. 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%

United Rentals, Inc.

General Rentals

Market

Construction & industrial equipment rental (general line)

Geography

United States and Canada

Customer

Construction and industrial companies, manufacturers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners

Role

Equipment rental provider / fleet operator

Revenue share

70.7%

Side-by-side metrics

Ecolab Inc.
United Rentals, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
ECL - New York Stock Exchange
URI - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$51.5B
Gross margin (TTM)
44.3%
35.9%
Operating margin (TTM)
17.3%
25.1%
Net margin (TTM)
12.5%
15.8%
Sector
Materials
Industrials
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Global Industrial
General Rentals
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
9.5%-11% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
63 / 100
63 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand, Legal
Supply, Demand, Legal
Last update
2026-01-01
2026-01-01

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Service Field NetworkData Workflow LockinCompliance AdvantageBrand Trust

Ecolab Inc. strengths

Installed Base ConsumablesLong Term ContractsTraining Org Change Costs

United Rentals, Inc. strengths

Physical Network DensityPreferential Input AccessOperational ExcellenceScope EconomiesCapacity 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%

United Rentals, Inc. segments

Full profile >

General Rentals

Competitive

70.7%

Specialty

Competitive

29.3%

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.