VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Stock Comparison
W.W. Grainger, Inc. vs The Sherwin-Williams Company
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 analysisThe Sherwin-Williams Company
SHW · 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 The Sherwin-Williams Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View SHW analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: The Sherwin-Williams Company leads (84 / 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.); The Sherwin-Williams Company has 3 segments (57.1% in Paint Stores Group).
- Primary market structure: Competitive vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
- Moat breadth: W.W. Grainger, Inc. has 5 moat types across 2 domains; The Sherwin-Williams Company has 6 across 3.
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%
The Sherwin-Williams Company
Paint Stores Group
Company-operated paint & coatings retail (architectural + related products)
United States, Canada, Caribbean
Professional contractors and DIY homeowners
Manufacturer-owned retail / distribution
57.1%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
W.W. Grainger, Inc. strengths
The Sherwin-Williams Company 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
The Sherwin-Williams Company segments
Full profile >Paint Stores Group
Quasi-Monopoly
Consumer Brands Group
Oligopoly
Performance Coatings Group
Oligopoly
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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.