VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Stock Comparison
Paychex, Inc. vs Watsco, Inc.
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
Paychex, Inc.
PAYX · NASDAQ Global Select Market
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into Paychex, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View PAYX 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: Watsco, Inc. leads (72 / 100 vs 66 / 100 for Paychex, Inc.).
- Segment focus: Paychex, Inc. has 3 segments (73% in Management Solutions); Watsco, Inc. has 1 segment (100% in HVAC/R Distribution).
- Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: Paychex, Inc. has 7 moat types across 4 domains; Watsco, Inc. has 4 across 3.
Primary market context
Paychex, Inc.
Management Solutions
Payroll processing and integrated HCM solutions for SMB and mid-market employers
United States (primarily)
Employers (SMB and mid-market)
HCM SaaS + outsourced payroll/HR service provider
73%
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
Paychex, Inc. strengths
Watsco, Inc. strengths
Segment mix
Paychex, Inc. segments
Full profile >Management Solutions
Oligopoly
PEO and Insurance Solutions
Competitive
Client funds float (interest on funds held for clients)
Oligopoly
Watsco, Inc. segments
Full profile >HVAC/R Distribution
Competitive
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 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.