VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Stock Comparison
LPL Financial Holdings Inc. vs Watsco, Inc.
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
LPL Financial Holdings Inc.
LPLA · Nasdaq
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 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: LPL Financial Holdings Inc. leads (79 / 100 vs 72 / 100 for Watsco, Inc.).
- Segment focus: LPL Financial Holdings Inc. has 1 segment (100% in Advisor Platform); Watsco, Inc. has 1 segment (100% in HVAC/R Distribution).
- Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: LPL Financial Holdings Inc. has 6 moat types across 4 domains; Watsco, Inc. has 4 across 3.
Primary market context
LPL Financial Holdings Inc.
Advisor Platform
Advisor-mediated wealth management platform (independent broker-dealer + RIA custody/clearing)
United States
Financial advisors and financial institutions
Platform / broker-dealer / custodian
100%
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
LPL Financial Holdings Inc. strengths
Watsco, Inc. strengths
Segment mix
LPL Financial Holdings Inc. segments
Full profile >Advisor Platform
Oligopoly
Watsco, Inc. segments
Full profile >HVAC/R Distribution
Competitive
Want the full wide moat stocks list?
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View the moat stocks listLooking for expansion-stage stocks?
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.