VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Stock Comparison

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. vs HCA Healthcare, 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)
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

HCA Healthcare, Inc.

HCA · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$106.5B
SectorHealthcare
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-01
Moat score
67/ 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 HCA Healthcare, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View HCA analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. leads (70 / 100 vs 67 / 100 for HCA Healthcare, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. has 5 segments (48.6% in Skin Care); HCA Healthcare, Inc. has 1 segment (100% in Hospitals and related healthcare entities).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. has 4 moat types across 2 domains; HCA Healthcare, Inc. has 4 across 3.

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%

HCA Healthcare, Inc.

Hospitals and related healthcare entities

Market

Acute care hospitals and outpatient healthcare services

Geography

United States (multi-state) and England (United Kingdom)

Customer

Patients and third-party payers

Role

Provider operator

Revenue share

100%

Side-by-side metrics

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.
HCA Healthcare, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
EL - New York Stock Exchange
HCA - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$106.5B
Sector
Consumer
Healthcare
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Skin Care
Hospitals and related healthcare entities
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Moderate
Moat score
70 / 100
67 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Legal, Supply, Demand
Last update
2025-12-23
2026-01-01

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Scope Economies

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. strengths

Brand TrustDistribution ControlOperational Excellence

HCA Healthcare, Inc. strengths

Permits Rights Of WayPhysical Network DensitySwitching Costs General

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%

HCA Healthcare, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Hospitals and related healthcare entities

Oligopoly

100%

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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.