VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

Ferguson Enterprises Inc. vs Watsco, Inc.

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

Ferguson Enterprises Inc.

FERG · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$44.5B
Gross margin (TTM)30.8%
Operating margin (TTM)8.7%
Net margin (TTM)6.3%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryIndustrial - Distribution
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-01
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 Ferguson Enterprises Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View FERG analysis

Watsco, Inc.

WSO · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$14.4B
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: both at 72 / 100.
  • Segment focus: Ferguson Enterprises Inc. has 2 segments (95.1% in United States); Watsco, Inc. has 1 segment (100% in HVAC/R Distribution).
  • Moat breadth: Ferguson Enterprises Inc. has 4 moat types across 2 domains; Watsco, Inc. has 4 across 3.

Primary market context

Ferguson Enterprises Inc.

United States

Market

Value-added distribution of plumbing, HVAC, PVF, waterworks and related products/services

Geography

United States

Customer

Residential and non-residential professional trade customers (contractors/builders) plus industrial and infrastructure customers

Role

Value-added distributor (B2B)

Revenue share

95.1%

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

Ferguson Enterprises Inc.
Watsco, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
FERG - New York Stock Exchange
WSO - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$44.5B
$14.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
30.8%
28.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
8.7%
10.2%
Net margin (TTM)
6.3%
7.4%
Sector
Industrials
Industrials
Industry
Industrial - Distribution
Industrial - Distribution
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
United States
HVAC/R Distribution
Market structure
Competitive
Competitive
Market share
n/a
9%-12% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
72 / 100
72 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand
Supply, Legal, Demand
Last update
2026-01-01
2026-01-05

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Physical Network DensityScale Economies Unit CostData Workflow Lockin

Ferguson Enterprises Inc. strengths

Scope Economies

Watsco, Inc. strengths

Contractual Exclusivity

Segment mix

Ferguson Enterprises Inc. segments

Full profile >

United States

Competitive

95.1%

Canada

Competitive

4.9%

Watsco, Inc. segments

Full profile >

HVAC/R Distribution

Competitive

100%

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.