VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

Fastenal Company vs West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

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

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

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

WST · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)
Gross margin (TTM)35.6%
Operating margin (TTM)20.9%
Net margin (TTM)16.3%
SectorHealthcare
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-22
Moat score
85/ 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 West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View WST analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. leads (85 / 100 vs 60 / 100 for Fastenal Company).
  • Segment focus: Fastenal Company has 3 segments (54.5% in Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)); West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has 2 segments (80.7% in Proprietary Products).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Weak vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Fastenal Company has 5 moat types across 2 domains; West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has 5 across 3.

Primary market context

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%

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

Proprietary Products

Market

Injectable primary packaging components and containment/delivery systems (elastomeric stoppers, seals, plungers, syringe/cartridge components; related services)

Geography

Global

Customer

Biologic, generic, and pharmaceutical drug manufacturers

Role

Primary packaging and delivery component supplier

Revenue share

80.7%

Side-by-side metrics

Fastenal Company
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
FAST - Nasdaq Stock Market
WST - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
n/a
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
35.6%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
20.9%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
16.3%
Sector
Industrials
Healthcare
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)
Proprietary Products
Market structure
Competitive
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
n/a
70%-75% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Weak
Moderate
Moat score
60 / 100
85 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand
Demand, Legal, Supply
Last update
2026-01-01
2025-12-22

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Operational Excellence

Fastenal Company strengths

Physical Network DensitySwitching Costs GeneralData Workflow LockinScope Economies

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. strengths

Design In QualificationCompliance AdvantageBrand TrustCapex Knowhow Scale

Segment mix

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%

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Proprietary Products

Quasi-Monopoly

80.7%

Contract-Manufactured Products

Competitive

19.3%

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.