VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

Pool Corporation vs Stryker Corporation

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

Pool Corporation

POOL · NASDAQ

Market cap (USD)$8.8B
Gross margin (TTM)29.6%
Operating margin (TTM)11.1%
Net margin (TTM)7.8%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryIndustrial - Distribution
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-06
Moat score
56/ 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 Pool Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View POOL analysis

Stryker Corporation

SYK · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$133.4B
Gross margin (TTM)62.6%
Operating margin (TTM)21.9%
Net margin (TTM)12.1%
SectorHealthcare
IndustryMedical - Devices
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
71/ 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 Stryker Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View SYK analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Stryker Corporation leads (71 / 100 vs 56 / 100 for Pool Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Pool Corporation has 1 segment (100% in Wholesale distribution (pool, irrigation, outdoor living)); Stryker Corporation has 2 segments (59.8% in MedSurg and Neurotechnology).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Weak vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Pool Corporation has 5 moat types across 2 domains; Stryker Corporation has 5 across 3.

Primary market context

Pool Corporation

Wholesale distribution (pool, irrigation, outdoor living)

Market

Wholesale distribution of swimming pool, irrigation/landscape, and related outdoor living products

Geography

North America (majority), with operations in Europe and Australia

Customer

Pool builders/remodelers, pool service/repair professionals, specialty pool retailers, irrigation/landscape contractors, commercial pool operators

Role

Distributor / wholesaler

Revenue share

100%

Stryker Corporation

MedSurg and Neurotechnology

Market

Hospital medical devices: surgical equipment and navigation, endoscopy and visualization, patient handling and emergency care, neurosurgical and neurovascular devices

Geography

Global

Customer

Hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers; clinicians

Role

Medical device OEM + distributor/service provider

Revenue share

59.8%

Side-by-side metrics

Pool Corporation
Stryker Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
POOL - NASDAQ
SYK - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$8.8B
$133.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
29.6%
62.6%
Operating margin (TTM)
11.1%
21.9%
Net margin (TTM)
7.8%
12.1%
Sector
Industrials
Healthcare
Industry
Industrial - Distribution
Medical - Devices
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Wholesale distribution (pool, irrigation, outdoor living)
MedSurg and Neurotechnology
Market structure
Competitive
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Weak
Moderate
Moat score
56 / 100
71 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand
Supply, Demand, Legal
Last update
2026-01-06
2025-12-30

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

Pool Corporation strengths

Physical Network DensityScale Economies Unit CostScope EconomiesProcurement InertiaData Workflow Lockin

Stryker Corporation strengths

Service Field NetworkBrand TrustCompliance AdvantageIP Choke PointTraining Org Change Costs

Segment mix

Pool Corporation segments

Full profile >

Wholesale distribution (pool, irrigation, outdoor living)

Competitive

100%

Stryker Corporation segments

Full profile >

MedSurg and Neurotechnology

Oligopoly

59.8%

Orthopaedics

Oligopoly

40.2%

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.