VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Stock Comparison

Pool Corporation vs Union Pacific 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

Union Pacific Corporation

UNP · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$137.6B
Gross margin (TTM)45.9%
Operating margin (TTM)40.6%
Net margin (TTM)28.7%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryRailroads
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
72/ 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 Union Pacific Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View UNP analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Union Pacific Corporation leads (72 / 100 vs 56 / 100 for Pool Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Pool Corporation has 1 segment (100% in Wholesale distribution (pool, irrigation, outdoor living)); Union Pacific Corporation has 4 segments (34.8% in Industrial).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Weak vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Pool Corporation has 5 moat types across 2 domains; Union Pacific Corporation has 5 across 2.

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%

Union Pacific Corporation

Industrial

Market

Rail freight transportation for industrial commodities (chemicals and plastics, metals and minerals, forest products, energy and specialized markets)

Geography

U.S. western two-thirds with interchange to other railroads; cross-border corridors to Mexico and Canada

Customer

Chemical producers, refiners, plastics manufacturers, construction and material suppliers, metals and mining, industrial shippers

Role

Class I rail carrier / linehaul freight transport

Revenue share

34.8%

Side-by-side metrics

Pool Corporation
Union Pacific Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
POOL - NASDAQ
UNP - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$8.8B
$137.6B
Gross margin (TTM)
29.6%
45.9%
Operating margin (TTM)
11.1%
40.6%
Net margin (TTM)
7.8%
28.7%
Sector
Industrials
Industrials
Industry
Industrial - Distribution
Railroads
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Wholesale distribution (pool, irrigation, outdoor living)
Industrial
Market structure
Competitive
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Weak
Moderate
Moat score
56 / 100
72 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand
Legal, Supply
Last update
2026-01-06
2025-12-30

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Physical Network DensityScale Economies Unit CostScope Economies

Pool Corporation strengths

Procurement InertiaData Workflow Lockin

Union Pacific Corporation strengths

Permits Rights Of WayOperational Excellence

Segment mix

Pool Corporation segments

Full profile >

Wholesale distribution (pool, irrigation, outdoor living)

Competitive

100%

Union Pacific Corporation segments

Full profile >

Bulk

Oligopoly

29.7%

Industrial

Oligopoly

34.8%

Premium

Oligopoly

29.5%

Other subsidiary, accessorial and other revenues

Competitive

5.9%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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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.