VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

Ecolab Inc. vs West Pharmaceutical Services, 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

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

WST · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)
Gross margin (TTM)35.6%
Operating margin (TTM)20.9%
Net margin (TTM)16.3%
SectorHealthcare
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-22
Moat score
85/ 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 West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View WST analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. leads (85 / 100 vs 63 / 100 for Ecolab Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Ecolab Inc. has 4 segments (49.5% in Global Industrial); West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has 2 segments (80.7% in Proprietary Products).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Ecolab Inc. has 7 moat types across 3 domains; West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has 5 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%

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

Proprietary Products

Market

Injectable primary packaging components and containment/delivery systems (elastomeric stoppers, seals, plungers, syringe/cartridge components; related services)

Geography

Global

Customer

Biologic, generic, and pharmaceutical drug manufacturers

Role

Primary packaging and delivery component supplier

Revenue share

80.7%

Side-by-side metrics

Ecolab Inc.
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
ECL - New York Stock Exchange
WST - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
n/a
Gross margin (TTM)
44.3%
35.6%
Operating margin (TTM)
17.3%
20.9%
Net margin (TTM)
12.5%
16.3%
Sector
Materials
Healthcare
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Global Industrial
Proprietary Products
Market structure
Oligopoly
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
n/a
70%-75% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
63 / 100
85 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand, Legal
Demand, Legal, Supply
Last update
2026-01-01
2025-12-22

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Compliance AdvantageBrand Trust

Ecolab Inc. strengths

Service Field NetworkData Workflow LockinInstalled Base ConsumablesLong Term ContractsTraining Org Change Costs

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. strengths

Design In QualificationCapex Knowhow ScaleOperational Excellence

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%

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Proprietary Products

Quasi-Monopoly

80.7%

Contract-Manufactured Products

Competitive

19.3%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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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.