VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

Elevance Health, Inc. vs Watsco, Inc.

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

Elevance Health, Inc.

ELV · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$82.8B
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorHealthcare
IndustryMedical - Healthcare Plans
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-09
Moat score
74/ 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 Elevance Health, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View ELV analysis

Watsco, Inc.

WSO · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$15.3B
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: Elevance Health, Inc. leads (74 / 100 vs 72 / 100 for Watsco, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Elevance Health, Inc. has 3 segments (85.2% in Health Benefits); Watsco, Inc. has 1 segment (100% in HVAC/R Distribution).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Elevance Health, Inc. has 8 moat types across 3 domains; Watsco, Inc. has 4 across 3.

Primary market context

Elevance Health, Inc.

Health Benefits

Market

U.S. health insurance and managed care

Geography

United States

Customer

Employers, individuals, and government programs

Role

Payer / managed care organization

Revenue share

85.2%

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

Elevance Health, Inc.
Watsco, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
ELV - New York Stock Exchange
WSO - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$82.8B
$15.3B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
28.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
10.2%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
7.4%
Sector
Healthcare
Industrials
Industry
Medical - Healthcare Plans
Industrial - Distribution
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Health Benefits
HVAC/R Distribution
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
9%-12% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
74 / 100
72 / 100
Moat domains
Legal, Demand, Supply
Supply, Legal, Demand
Last update
2026-01-09
2026-01-05

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Scale Economies Unit CostData Workflow Lockin

Elevance Health, Inc. strengths

Concession LicenseBrand TrustGovernment Contracting RelationshipsSuite BundlingScope EconomiesSwitching Costs General

Watsco, Inc. strengths

Physical Network DensityContractual Exclusivity

Segment mix

Elevance Health, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Health Benefits

Oligopoly

85.2%

CarelonRx

Oligopoly

12.8%

Carelon Services

Competitive

1.9%

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.