VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Stock Comparison

EssilorLuxottica vs Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

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

EssilorLuxottica

EL · Euronext Paris

Market cap (USD)$110.3B
Gross margin (TTM)61.5%
Operating margin (TTM)12.4%
Net margin (TTM)8.5%
SectorHealthcare
IndustryMedical - Instruments & Supplies
CountryFR
Data as of2026-01-11
Moat score
69/ 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 EssilorLuxottica's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View EL analysis

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

EW · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$46.8B
Gross margin (TTM)78.1%
Operating margin (TTM)26.7%
Net margin (TTM)17.6%
SectorHealthcare
IndustryMedical - Devices
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
82/ 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 Edwards Lifesciences Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View EW analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation leads (82 / 100 vs 69 / 100 for EssilorLuxottica).
  • Segment focus: EssilorLuxottica has 2 segments (52.7% in Direct to Consumer); Edwards Lifesciences Corporation has 3 segments (75.5% in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: EssilorLuxottica has 5 moat types across 3 domains; Edwards Lifesciences Corporation has 6 across 3.

Primary market context

EssilorLuxottica

Direct to Consumer

Market

Optical retail and e-commerce (prescription eyewear and sunglasses)

Geography

Global

Customer

Consumers (end-users)

Role

Omnichannel retailer + vertically integrated manufacturer/brand owner

Revenue share

52.7%

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

Market

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) devices

Geography

Global

Customer

Hospitals and structural heart centers

Role

Medical device manufacturer

Revenue share

75.5%

Side-by-side metrics

EssilorLuxottica
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
EL - Euronext Paris
EW - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$110.3B
$46.8B
Gross margin (TTM)
61.5%
78.1%
Operating margin (TTM)
12.4%
26.7%
Net margin (TTM)
8.5%
17.6%
Sector
Healthcare
Healthcare
Industry
Medical - Instruments & Supplies
Medical - Devices
HQ country
FR
US
Primary segment
Direct to Consumer
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
Market structure
Competitive
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
60%-73% (estimated)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
69 / 100
82 / 100
Moat domains
Legal, Supply, Demand
Demand, Legal, Supply
Last update
2026-01-11
2025-12-31

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

IP Choke PointBrand Trust

EssilorLuxottica strengths

Distribution ControlScale Economies Unit CostContractual Exclusivity

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation strengths

Training Org Change CostsRegulated Standards PipeCompliance AdvantageSupply Chain Control

Segment mix

EssilorLuxottica segments

Full profile >

Professional Solutions

Oligopoly

47.3%

Direct to Consumer

Competitive

52.7%

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation segments

Full profile >

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

Oligopoly

75.5%

Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies (TMTT)

Competitive

6.5%

Surgical Structural Heart

Oligopoly

18%

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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.