VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

Graco Inc. vs HCA Healthcare, Inc.

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

Graco Inc.

GGG · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$13.8B
Gross margin (TTM)52.3%
Operating margin (TTM)26.6%
Net margin (TTM)22.7%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryIndustrial - Machinery
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-05
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 Graco Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View GGG analysis

HCA Healthcare, Inc.

HCA · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$116B
Gross margin (TTM)15.6%
Operating margin (TTM)15.6%
Net margin (TTM)8.6%
SectorHealthcare
IndustryMedical - Care Facilities
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: both at 67 / 100.
  • Segment focus: Graco Inc. has 3 segments (49.4% in Contractor); HCA Healthcare, Inc. has 1 segment (100% in Hospitals and related healthcare entities).
  • Moat breadth: Graco Inc. has 7 moat types across 2 domains; HCA Healthcare, Inc. has 4 across 3.

Primary market context

Graco Inc.

Contractor

Market

Professional and prosumer paint/coatings application equipment (airless sprayers, texture sprayers, line stripers, plural-component proportioners)

Geography

Global

Customer

Professional contractors and trades; DIY consumers via retail channels

Role

Equipment OEM / brand owner

Revenue share

49.4%

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

Graco Inc.
HCA Healthcare, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
GGG - New York Stock Exchange
HCA - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$13.8B
$116B
Gross margin (TTM)
52.3%
15.6%
Operating margin (TTM)
26.6%
15.6%
Net margin (TTM)
22.7%
8.6%
Sector
Industrials
Healthcare
Industry
Industrial - Machinery
Medical - Care Facilities
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Contractor
Hospitals and related healthcare entities
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
67 / 100
67 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Legal, Supply, Demand
Last update
2026-01-05
2026-01-01

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Scope Economies

Graco Inc. strengths

Brand TrustDistribution ControlOperational ExcellenceService Field NetworkDesign In QualificationInstalled Base Consumables

HCA Healthcare, Inc. strengths

Permits Rights Of WayPhysical Network DensitySwitching Costs General

Segment mix

Graco Inc. segments

Full profile >

Contractor

Oligopoly

49.4%

Industrial

Oligopoly

43.1%

Expansion Markets

Competitive

7.5%

HCA Healthcare, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Hospitals and related healthcare entities

Oligopoly

100%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.

View the moat stocks list

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.