VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Stock Comparison
W.W. Grainger, Inc. vs Waste Management, Inc.
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 analysisWaste Management, Inc.
WM · 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 Waste Management, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View WM analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: Waste Management, Inc. leads (79 / 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.); Waste Management, Inc. has 4 segments (82.2% in Collection and Disposal).
- Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
- Moat breadth: W.W. Grainger, Inc. has 5 moat types across 2 domains; Waste Management, Inc. has 7 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%
Waste Management, Inc.
Collection and Disposal
Municipal, commercial, and industrial solid waste collection, transfer, and landfill disposal
North America (primarily US and Canada)
Municipalities and end-customers (residential, commercial, industrial) via direct and contract channels
Integrated hauler + transfer + landfill owner/operator
82.2%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
W.W. Grainger, Inc. strengths
Waste Management, Inc. 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
Waste Management, Inc. segments
Full profile >Collection and Disposal
Oligopoly
Recycling Processing and Sales
Competitive
WM Renewable Energy
Competitive
WM Healthcare Solutions
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.