VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Stock Comparison
The Hershey Company vs Watsco, Inc.
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
The Hershey Company
HSY · 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 Hershey Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View HSY analysisWatsco, Inc.
WSO · 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 Watsco, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View WSO analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: The Hershey Company leads (75 / 100 vs 72 / 100 for Watsco, Inc.).
- Segment focus: The Hershey Company has 3 segments (81.4% in North America Confectionery); Watsco, Inc. has 1 segment (100% in HVAC/R Distribution).
- Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: The Hershey Company has 4 moat types across 2 domains; Watsco, Inc. has 4 across 3.
Primary market context
The Hershey Company
North America Confectionery
Branded chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery
United States and Canada
Retail consumers via grocery, mass, club and convenience
Branded manufacturer and marketer
81.4%
Watsco, Inc.
HVAC/R Distribution
HVAC/R equipment, parts and supplies distribution
North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico; export to Latin America/Caribbean)
Licensed HVAC and refrigeration contractors (residential & commercial)
Wholesale distributor
100%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
No overlap yet.
The Hershey Company strengths
Watsco, Inc. strengths
Segment mix
The Hershey Company segments
Full profile >North America Confectionery
Oligopoly
North America Salty Snacks
Oligopoly
International
Competitive
Watsco, Inc. segments
Full profile >HVAC/R Distribution
Competitive
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 listLooking for expansion-stage stocks?
Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.
View expansion-stage stocksCuration & 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.