VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

Equifax Inc. vs Watsco, Inc.

Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.

Equifax Inc.

EFX · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$27.3B
Gross margin (TTM)56.3%
Operating margin (TTM)18.5%
Net margin (TTM)11.1%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryConsulting Services
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-26
Moat score
70/ 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 Equifax Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View EFX analysis

Watsco, Inc.

WSO · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$14.4B
Gross margin (TTM)28.3%
Operating margin (TTM)10.2%
Net margin (TTM)7.4%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryIndustrial - Distribution
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-05
Moat score
72/ 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 Watsco, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View WSO analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Watsco, Inc. leads (72 / 100 vs 70 / 100 for Equifax Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Equifax Inc. has 3 segments (42.8% in Workforce Solutions); Watsco, Inc. has 1 segment (100% in HVAC/R Distribution).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Equifax Inc. has 3 moat types across 3 domains; Watsco, Inc. has 4 across 3.

Primary market context

Equifax Inc.

Workforce Solutions

Market

Income & employment verification and employer HR compliance services

Geography

Primarily U.S. (with smaller international offerings)

Customer

Employers, lenders, government agencies, and credentialed verifiers

Role

Payroll-fed data & verification intermediary

Revenue share

42.8%

Watsco, Inc.

HVAC/R Distribution

Market

HVAC/R equipment, parts and supplies distribution

Geography

North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico; export to Latin America/Caribbean)

Customer

Licensed HVAC and refrigeration contractors (residential & commercial)

Role

Wholesale distributor

Revenue share

100%

Side-by-side metrics

Equifax Inc.
Watsco, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
EFX - New York Stock Exchange
WSO - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$27.3B
$14.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
56.3%
28.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
18.5%
10.2%
Net margin (TTM)
11.1%
7.4%
Sector
Industrials
Industrials
Industry
Consulting Services
Industrial - Distribution
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Workforce Solutions
HVAC/R Distribution
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
9%-12% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Moderate
Moat score
70 / 100
72 / 100
Moat domains
Network, Demand, Legal
Supply, Legal, Demand
Last update
2025-12-26
2026-01-05

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Data Workflow Lockin

Equifax Inc. strengths

Data Network EffectsCompliance Advantage

Watsco, Inc. strengths

Physical Network DensityContractual ExclusivityScale Economies Unit Cost

Segment mix

Equifax Inc. segments

Full profile >

Workforce Solutions

Oligopoly

42.8%

U.S. Information Solutions

Oligopoly

33.3%

International

Competitive

23.8%

Watsco, Inc. segments

Full profile >

HVAC/R Distribution

Competitive

100%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.

View expansion-stage stocks

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.