VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. vs Fastenal Company

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

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.

EL · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)
Gross margin (TTM)74.2%
Operating margin (TTM)-0.7%
Net margin (TTM)-6.4%
SectorConsumer
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-23
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 The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View EL analysis

Fastenal Company

FAST · Nasdaq Stock Market

Market cap (USD)
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorIndustrials
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-01
Moat score
60/ 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 Fastenal Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View FAST analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. leads (70 / 100 vs 60 / 100 for Fastenal Company).
  • Segment focus: The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. has 5 segments (48.6% in Skin Care); Fastenal Company has 3 segments (54.5% in Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Strong vs Weak.
  • Moat breadth: The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. has 4 moat types across 2 domains; Fastenal Company has 5 across 2.

Primary market context

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.

Skin Care

Market

Prestige skin care products

Geography

Global

Customer

Consumers

Role

Branded manufacturer/marketer

Revenue share

48.6%

Fastenal Company

Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)

Market

Industrial & construction supplies distribution (MRO/OEM consumables) via local branches

Geography

North America (primary) + select international

Customer

B2B

Role

Distributor / MRO supplier

Revenue share

54.5%

Side-by-side metrics

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.
Fastenal Company
Ticker / Exchange
EL - New York Stock Exchange
FAST - Nasdaq Stock Market
Market cap (USD)
n/a
n/a
Gross margin (TTM)
74.2%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
-0.7%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
-6.4%
n/a
Sector
Consumer
Industrials
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Skin Care
Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Weak
Moat score
70 / 100
60 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Supply, Demand
Last update
2025-12-23
2026-01-01

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Operational ExcellenceScope Economies

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. strengths

Brand TrustDistribution Control

Fastenal Company strengths

Physical Network DensitySwitching Costs GeneralData Workflow Lockin

Segment mix

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. segments

Full profile >

Skin Care

Oligopoly

48.6%

Makeup

Oligopoly

29.4%

Fragrance

Oligopoly

17.4%

Hair Care

Competitive

3.9%

Other

Competitive

0.7%

Fastenal Company segments

Full profile >

Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)

Competitive

54.5%

Onsite solutions (embedded customer locations)

Competitive

42.4%

Other / non-traditional sales (services & custom manufacturing)

Competitive

3.1%

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.