VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Stock Comparison

LPL Financial Holdings Inc. vs The Sherwin-Williams Company

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

LPL Financial Holdings Inc.

LPLA · Nasdaq

Market cap (USD)$29.9B
SectorFinancials
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-26
Moat score
79/ 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 LPL Financial Holdings Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View LPLA analysis

The Sherwin-Williams Company

SHW · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$80.4B
SectorMaterials
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
84/ 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 The Sherwin-Williams Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View SHW analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: The Sherwin-Williams Company leads (84 / 100 vs 79 / 100 for LPL Financial Holdings Inc.).
  • Segment focus: LPL Financial Holdings Inc. has 1 segment (100% in Advisor Platform); The Sherwin-Williams Company has 3 segments (57.1% in Paint Stores Group).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: LPL Financial Holdings Inc. has 6 moat types across 4 domains; The Sherwin-Williams Company has 6 across 3.

Primary market context

LPL Financial Holdings Inc.

Advisor Platform

Market

Advisor-mediated wealth management platform (independent broker-dealer + RIA custody/clearing)

Geography

United States

Customer

Financial advisors and financial institutions

Role

Platform / broker-dealer / custodian

Revenue share

100%

The Sherwin-Williams Company

Paint Stores Group

Market

Company-operated paint & coatings retail (architectural + related products)

Geography

United States, Canada, Caribbean

Customer

Professional contractors and DIY homeowners

Role

Manufacturer-owned retail / distribution

Revenue share

57.1%

Side-by-side metrics

LPL Financial Holdings Inc.
The Sherwin-Williams Company
Ticker / Exchange
LPLA - Nasdaq
SHW - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$29.9B
$80.4B
Sector
Financials
Materials
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Advisor Platform
Paint Stores Group
Market structure
Oligopoly
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
23%-25% (reported)
69.4% (estimated)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
79 / 100
84 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand, Legal, Network
Supply, Demand, Legal
Last update
2025-12-26
2025-12-31

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Compliance AdvantageSwitching Costs General

LPL Financial Holdings Inc. strengths

Scale Economies Unit CostSuite BundlingOperational ExcellenceTwo Sided Network

The Sherwin-Williams Company strengths

Distribution ControlService Field NetworkBrand TrustScope Economies

Segment mix

LPL Financial Holdings Inc. segments

Full profile >

Advisor Platform

Oligopoly

100%

The Sherwin-Williams Company segments

Full profile >

Paint Stores Group

Quasi-Monopoly

57.1%

Consumer Brands Group

Oligopoly

13.5%

Performance Coatings Group

Oligopoly

29.4%

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 list

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.