VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Stock Comparison

James Hardie Industries plc vs Pool Corporation

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)$18.2B
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

Pool Corporation

POOL · NASDAQ

Market cap (USD)$8.8B
Gross margin (TTM)29.6%
Operating margin (TTM)11.1%
Net margin (TTM)7.8%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryIndustrial - Distribution
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-06
Moat score
56/ 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 Pool Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View POOL analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: James Hardie Industries plc leads (74 / 100 vs 56 / 100 for Pool Corporation).
  • Segment focus: James Hardie Industries plc has 4 segments (64.2% in Siding & Trim); Pool Corporation has 1 segment (100% in Wholesale distribution (pool, irrigation, outdoor living)).
  • 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; Pool Corporation 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%

Pool Corporation

Wholesale distribution (pool, irrigation, outdoor living)

Market

Wholesale distribution of swimming pool, irrigation/landscape, and related outdoor living products

Geography

North America (majority), with operations in Europe and Australia

Customer

Pool builders/remodelers, pool service/repair professionals, specialty pool retailers, irrigation/landscape contractors, commercial pool operators

Role

Distributor / wholesaler

Revenue share

100%

Side-by-side metrics

James Hardie Industries plc
Pool Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
JHX - ASX
POOL - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$18.2B
$8.8B
Gross margin (TTM)
36.3%
29.6%
Operating margin (TTM)
13.6%
11.1%
Net margin (TTM)
4.7%
7.8%
Sector
Materials
Industrials
Industry
Construction Materials
Industrial - Distribution
HQ country
IE
US
Primary segment
Siding & Trim
Wholesale distribution (pool, irrigation, outdoor living)
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
56 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand
Supply, Demand
Last update
2025-12-28
2026-01-06

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

James Hardie Industries plc strengths

Capex Knowhow ScaleBrand TrustLong Term ContractsOperational ExcellenceDistribution Control

Pool Corporation strengths

Physical Network DensityScale Economies Unit CostScope EconomiesProcurement InertiaData Workflow Lockin

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%

Pool Corporation segments

Full profile >

Wholesale distribution (pool, irrigation, outdoor living)

Competitive

100%

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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.