VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Stock Comparison

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. vs Global Payments Inc.

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)$41B
Gross margin (TTM)74.2%
Operating margin (TTM)-0.7%
Net margin (TTM)-6.4%
SectorConsumer
IndustryHousehold & Personal Products
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

Global Payments Inc.

GPN · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$18.8B
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorFinancials
Industry
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-10
Moat score
62/ 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 Global Payments Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View GPN analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. leads (70 / 100 vs 62 / 100 for Global Payments Inc.).
  • Segment focus: The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. has 5 segments (48.6% in Skin Care); Global Payments Inc. has 2 segments (76.1% in Merchant Solutions).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. has 4 moat types across 2 domains; Global Payments Inc. has 6 across 4.

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%

Global Payments Inc.

Merchant Solutions

Market

Merchant acquiring and integrated payments (card-present and e-commerce)

Geography

Global

Customer

Merchants (SMB to enterprise) and software platforms

Role

Acquirer and payment processor

Revenue share

76.1%

Side-by-side metrics

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.
Global Payments Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
EL - New York Stock Exchange
GPN - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$41B
$18.8B
Gross margin (TTM)
74.2%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
-0.7%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
-6.4%
n/a
Sector
Consumer
Financials
Industry
Household & Personal Products
n/a
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Skin Care
Merchant Solutions
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Moderate
Moat score
70 / 100
62 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Network, Demand, Supply, Legal
Last update
2025-12-23
2026-01-10

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. strengths

Brand TrustDistribution ControlOperational ExcellenceScope Economies

Global Payments Inc. strengths

Ecosystem ComplementsData Workflow LockinScale Economies Unit CostLong Term ContractsSwitching Costs GeneralCompliance Advantage

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%

Global Payments Inc. segments

Full profile >

Merchant Solutions

Competitive

76.1%

Issuer Solutions

Oligopoly

24.6%

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.