VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

Keysight Technologies, Inc. vs Watsco, Inc.

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

Keysight Technologies, Inc.

KEYS · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$35.9B
Gross margin (TTM)62.1%
Operating margin (TTM)17.6%
Net margin (TTM)15.7%
SectorTechnology
IndustryHardware, Equipment & Parts
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-01
Moat score
69/ 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 Keysight Technologies, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View KEYS analysis

Watsco, Inc.

WSO · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$14.4B
Gross margin (TTM)28.3%
Operating margin (TTM)10.2%
Net margin (TTM)7.4%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryIndustrial - Distribution
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-05
Moat score
72/ 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 Watsco, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View WSO analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Watsco, Inc. leads (72 / 100 vs 69 / 100 for Keysight Technologies, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Keysight Technologies, Inc. has 2 segments (69.3% in Communications Solutions Group (CSG)); Watsco, Inc. has 1 segment (100% in HVAC/R Distribution).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Keysight Technologies, Inc. has 6 moat types across 3 domains; Watsco, Inc. has 4 across 3.

Primary market context

Keysight Technologies, Inc.

Communications Solutions Group (CSG)

Market

Electronic design, test, and measurement solutions for communications networks and aerospace/defense/government systems

Geography

Global

Customer

Commercial communications OEMs and operators; aerospace/defense primes and government contractors/agencies

Role

Test & measurement instrumentation OEM + software platform + services provider

Revenue share

69.3%

Watsco, Inc.

HVAC/R Distribution

Market

HVAC/R equipment, parts and supplies distribution

Geography

North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico; export to Latin America/Caribbean)

Customer

Licensed HVAC and refrigeration contractors (residential & commercial)

Role

Wholesale distributor

Revenue share

100%

Side-by-side metrics

Keysight Technologies, Inc.
Watsco, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
KEYS - New York Stock Exchange
WSO - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$35.9B
$14.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
62.1%
28.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
17.6%
10.2%
Net margin (TTM)
15.7%
7.4%
Sector
Technology
Industrials
Industry
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
Industrial - Distribution
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Communications Solutions Group (CSG)
HVAC/R Distribution
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
9%-12% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
69 / 100
72 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Network
Supply, Legal, Demand
Last update
2026-01-01
2026-01-05

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Data Workflow Lockin

Keysight Technologies, Inc. strengths

Service Field NetworkDesign In QualificationDe Facto StandardLearning Curve YieldBrand Trust

Watsco, Inc. strengths

Physical Network DensityContractual ExclusivityScale Economies Unit Cost

Segment mix

Keysight Technologies, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Communications Solutions Group (CSG)

Oligopoly

69.3%

Electronic Industrial Solutions Group (EISG)

Oligopoly

30.7%

Watsco, Inc. segments

Full profile >

HVAC/R Distribution

Competitive

100%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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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.