VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Stock Comparison
W.W. Grainger, Inc. vs James Hardie Industries plc
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
W.W. Grainger, Inc.
GWW · New York Stock Exchange
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into W.W. Grainger, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View GWW analysisJames Hardie Industries plc
JHX · ASX
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into James Hardie Industries plc's moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View JHX analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: James Hardie Industries plc leads (74 / 100 vs 65 / 100 for W.W. Grainger, Inc.).
- Segment focus: W.W. Grainger, Inc. has 3 segments (79.9% in High-Touch Solutions N.A.); James Hardie Industries plc has 4 segments (64.2% in Siding & Trim).
- Primary market structure: Competitive vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: W.W. Grainger, Inc. has 5 moat types across 2 domains; James Hardie Industries plc has 5 across 2.
Primary market context
W.W. Grainger, Inc.
High-Touch Solutions N.A.
MRO (maintenance, repair and operations) products distribution and value-added inventory/procurement solutions
North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico)
Mid-size and large businesses with complex purchasing operations; also government and institutions
Distributor / wholesaler + onsite inventory services
79.9%
James Hardie Industries plc
Siding & Trim
North American fiber cement exterior siding & trim (plus related exterior products)
North America (primarily U.S. and Canada)
Homebuilders, contractors, remodelers, dealers/distributors, and retailers
Manufacturer / branded building-products supplier
64.2%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
W.W. Grainger, Inc. strengths
James Hardie Industries plc strengths
Segment mix
W.W. Grainger, Inc. segments
Full profile >High-Touch Solutions N.A.
Competitive
Endless Assortment
Competitive
Other (Cromwell U.K. + captive insurance)
Competitive
James Hardie Industries plc segments
Full profile >Siding & Trim
Quasi-Monopoly
Deck, Rail & Accessories
Oligopoly
Australia & New Zealand
Oligopoly
Europe
Competitive
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View the moat stocks listCuration & 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.