VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Stock Comparison

Alphabet Inc. vs The Sherwin-Williams Company

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

Alphabet Inc.

GOOGL · The Nasdaq Stock Market

Market cap (USD)$3.7T
SectorCommunication Services
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-21
Moat score
86/ 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 Alphabet Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View GOOGL analysis

The Sherwin-Williams Company

SHW · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$80.4B
SectorMaterials
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
84/ 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 Sherwin-Williams Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View SHW analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Alphabet Inc. leads (86 / 100 vs 84 / 100 for The Sherwin-Williams Company).
  • Segment focus: Alphabet Inc. has 6 segments (56.6% in Google Search & other (Advertising)); The Sherwin-Williams Company has 3 segments (57.1% in Paint Stores Group).
  • Moat breadth: Alphabet Inc. has 10 moat types across 4 domains; The Sherwin-Williams Company has 6 across 3.

Primary market context

Alphabet Inc.

Google Search & other (Advertising)

Market

Search advertising (intent-based digital ads)

Geography

Global

Customer

Advertisers (SMB to enterprise)

Role

Ad platform / publisher

Revenue share

56.6%

The Sherwin-Williams Company

Paint Stores Group

Market

Company-operated paint & coatings retail (architectural + related products)

Geography

United States, Canada, Caribbean

Customer

Professional contractors and DIY homeowners

Role

Manufacturer-owned retail / distribution

Revenue share

57.1%

Side-by-side metrics

Alphabet Inc.
The Sherwin-Williams Company
Ticker / Exchange
GOOGL - The Nasdaq Stock Market
SHW - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$3.7T
$80.4B
Sector
Communication Services
Materials
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Google Search & other (Advertising)
Paint Stores Group
Market structure
Quasi-Monopoly
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
88%-91% (reported)
69.4% (estimated)
HHI estimate
8,115
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Strong
Moat score
86 / 100
84 / 100
Moat domains
Network, Demand, Legal, Supply
Supply, Demand, Legal
Last update
2025-12-21
2025-12-31

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Switching Costs General

Alphabet Inc. strengths

Data Network EffectsHabit DefaultTwo Sided NetworkContent Rights CurrencyOperational ExcellenceDefault OS GatewayCapex Knowhow ScaleEcosystem ComplementsIncubation & patient capital

The Sherwin-Williams Company strengths

Distribution ControlService Field NetworkBrand TrustScope EconomiesCompliance Advantage

Segment mix

Alphabet Inc. segments

Full profile >

Google Search & other (Advertising)

Quasi-Monopoly

56.6%

YouTube (Advertising)

Oligopoly

10.3%

Google Network (Advertising)

Competitive

8.7%

Google Subscriptions, Platforms & Devices

Quasi-Monopoly

11.5%

Google Cloud

Oligopoly

12.4%

Other Bets

Competitive

0.5%

The Sherwin-Williams Company segments

Full profile >

Paint Stores Group

Quasi-Monopoly

57.1%

Consumer Brands Group

Oligopoly

13.5%

Performance Coatings Group

Oligopoly

29.4%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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

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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.