VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

Starbucks Corporation vs Watsco, Inc.

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

Starbucks Corporation

SBUX · Nasdaq Global Select Market

Market cap (USD)$98.4B
Gross margin (TTM)22.9%
Operating margin (TTM)9.7%
Net margin (TTM)5%
SectorConsumer
IndustryRestaurants
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
70/ 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 Starbucks Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View SBUX analysis

Watsco, Inc.

WSO · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$14.4B
Gross margin (TTM)28.3%
Operating margin (TTM)10.2%
Net margin (TTM)7.4%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryIndustrial - Distribution
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-05
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 Watsco, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View WSO analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Watsco, Inc. leads (72 / 100 vs 70 / 100 for Starbucks Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Starbucks Corporation has 3 segments (73.6% in North America); Watsco, Inc. has 1 segment (100% in HVAC/R Distribution).
  • Moat breadth: Starbucks Corporation has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Watsco, Inc. has 4 across 3.

Primary market context

Starbucks Corporation

North America

Market

Branded coffeehouse retail (company-operated + licensed)

Geography

U.S. and Canada

Customer

Consumers

Role

Retailer / brand owner

Revenue share

73.6%

Watsco, Inc.

HVAC/R Distribution

Market

HVAC/R equipment, parts and supplies distribution

Geography

North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico; export to Latin America/Caribbean)

Customer

Licensed HVAC and refrigeration contractors (residential & commercial)

Role

Wholesale distributor

Revenue share

100%

Side-by-side metrics

Starbucks Corporation
Watsco, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
SBUX - Nasdaq Global Select Market
WSO - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$98.4B
$14.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
22.9%
28.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
9.7%
10.2%
Net margin (TTM)
5%
7.4%
Sector
Consumer
Industrials
Industry
Restaurants
Industrial - Distribution
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
North America
HVAC/R Distribution
Market structure
Competitive
Competitive
Market share
35%-40% (implied)
9%-12% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
70 / 100
72 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Supply, Legal, Demand
Last update
2025-12-31
2026-01-05

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Physical Network DensityContractual Exclusivity

Starbucks Corporation strengths

Brand TrustHabit DefaultOperational ExcellencePreferential Input AccessScope Economies

Watsco, Inc. strengths

Scale Economies Unit CostData Workflow Lockin

Segment mix

Starbucks Corporation segments

Full profile >

North America

Competitive

73.6%

International

Competitive

21%

Channel Development

Oligopoly

5%

Watsco, Inc. segments

Full profile >

HVAC/R Distribution

Competitive

100%

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.