VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Stock Comparison
James Hardie Industries plc vs Watsco, Inc.
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
James Hardie Industries plc
JHX · ASX
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 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: James Hardie Industries plc leads (74 / 100 vs 72 / 100 for Watsco, Inc.).
- Segment focus: James Hardie Industries plc has 4 segments (64.2% in Siding & Trim); Watsco, Inc. has 1 segment (100% in HVAC/R Distribution).
- Primary market structure: Quasi-Monopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: James Hardie Industries plc has 5 moat types across 2 domains; Watsco, Inc. has 4 across 3.
Primary market context
James Hardie Industries plc
Siding & Trim
North American fiber cement exterior siding & trim (plus related exterior products)
North America (primarily U.S. and Canada)
Homebuilders, contractors, remodelers, dealers/distributors, and retailers
Manufacturer / branded building-products supplier
64.2%
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.
James Hardie Industries plc strengths
Watsco, Inc. strengths
Segment mix
James Hardie Industries plc segments
Full profile >Siding & Trim
Quasi-Monopoly
Deck, Rail & Accessories
Oligopoly
Australia & New Zealand
Oligopoly
Europe
Competitive
Watsco, Inc. segments
Full profile >HVAC/R Distribution
Competitive
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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.