VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

James Hardie Industries plc vs Lowe's Companies, Inc.

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

James Hardie Industries plc

JHX · ASX

Market cap (USD)$18.8B
Gross margin (TTM)36.3%
Operating margin (TTM)13.6%
Net margin (TTM)4.7%
SectorMaterials
IndustryConstruction Materials
CountryIE
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
74/ 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 James Hardie Industries plc's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View JHX analysis

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

LOW · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$149.9B
Gross margin (TTM)31.4%
Operating margin (TTM)12.1%
Net margin (TTM)8.1%
SectorConsumer
IndustryHome Improvement
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-06
Moat score
48/ 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 Lowe's Companies, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View LOW analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: James Hardie Industries plc leads (74 / 100 vs 48 / 100 for Lowe's Companies, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: James Hardie Industries plc has 4 segments (64.2% in Siding & Trim); Lowe's Companies, Inc. has 1 segment (100% in Home Improvement Operations (Omnichannel)).
  • Primary market structure: Quasi-Monopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Weak.
  • Moat breadth: James Hardie Industries plc has 5 moat types across 2 domains; Lowe's Companies, Inc. has 5 across 2.

Primary market context

James Hardie Industries plc

Siding & Trim

Market

North American fiber cement exterior siding & trim (plus related exterior products)

Geography

North America (primarily U.S. and Canada)

Customer

Homebuilders, contractors, remodelers, dealers/distributors, and retailers

Role

Manufacturer / branded building-products supplier

Revenue share

64.2%

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Home Improvement Operations (Omnichannel)

Market

U.S. home improvement retail and related services (DIY and Pro; omnichannel)

Geography

United States

Customer

DIY consumers and small-to-medium professional contractors

Role

Omnichannel retailer and distributor

Revenue share

100%

Side-by-side metrics

James Hardie Industries plc
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
JHX - ASX
LOW - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$18.8B
$149.9B
Gross margin (TTM)
36.3%
31.4%
Operating margin (TTM)
13.6%
12.1%
Net margin (TTM)
4.7%
8.1%
Sector
Materials
Consumer
Industry
Construction Materials
Home Improvement
HQ country
IE
US
Primary segment
Siding & Trim
Home Improvement Operations (Omnichannel)
Market structure
Quasi-Monopoly
Competitive
Market share
88%-92% (estimated)
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Weak
Moat score
74 / 100
48 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand
Supply, Demand
Last update
2025-12-28
2026-01-06

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Operational Excellence

James Hardie Industries plc strengths

Capex Knowhow ScaleBrand TrustLong Term ContractsDistribution Control

Lowe's Companies, Inc. strengths

Physical Network DensitySupply Chain ControlScope EconomiesHabit Default

Segment mix

James Hardie Industries plc segments

Full profile >

Siding & Trim

Quasi-Monopoly

64.2%

Deck, Rail & Accessories

Oligopoly

11.7%

Australia & New Zealand

Oligopoly

11.6%

Europe

Competitive

12.5%

Lowe's Companies, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Home Improvement Operations (Omnichannel)

Competitive

100%

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Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.

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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.