VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Stock Comparison
McDonald's Corporation vs Ulta Beauty, Inc.
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
McDonald's Corporation
MCD · 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 McDonald's Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View MCD analysisUlta Beauty, Inc.
ULTA · 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 Ulta Beauty, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View ULTA analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: McDonald's Corporation leads (80 / 100 vs 58 / 100 for Ulta Beauty, Inc.).
- Segment focus: McDonald's Corporation has 3 segments (48.7% in International Operated Markets); Ulta Beauty, Inc. has 3 segments (94% in Beauty Products Retail).
- Moat breadth: McDonald's Corporation has 5 moat types across 2 domains; Ulta Beauty, Inc. has 8 across 5.
Primary market context
McDonald's Corporation
International Operated Markets
Quick-service restaurants and informal eating out (IEO)
International operated markets (e.g., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, U.K.)
Consumers (end customers) and franchisees (B2B system partners)
Franchisor / restaurant operator
48.7%
Ulta Beauty, Inc.
Beauty Products Retail
U.S. beauty products retail (specialty omnichannel beauty retailer)
United States
Consumers (end-users) shopping in-store and online
Specialty retailer / distributor
94%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
McDonald's Corporation strengths
Ulta Beauty, Inc. strengths
Segment mix
McDonald's Corporation segments
Full profile >U.S.
Competitive
International Operated Markets
Competitive
International Developmental Licensed Markets & Corporate
Competitive
Ulta Beauty, Inc. segments
Full profile >Beauty Products Retail
Competitive
Beauty Services
Competitive
Platform Monetization (Retail Media, Credit Cards, Partner Royalties, Deferred Revenue)
Competitive
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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.