VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Stock Comparison
The Sherwin-Williams Company vs Waters Corporation
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
The Sherwin-Williams Company
SHW · 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 The Sherwin-Williams Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View SHW analysisWaters Corporation
WAT · 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 Waters Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View WAT analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: The Sherwin-Williams Company leads (84 / 100 vs 66 / 100 for Waters Corporation).
- Segment focus: The Sherwin-Williams Company has 3 segments (57.1% in Paint Stores Group); Waters Corporation has 4 segments (34.9% in Waters instrument systems).
- Primary market structure: Quasi-Monopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: The Sherwin-Williams Company has 6 moat types across 3 domains; Waters Corporation has 7 across 2.
Primary market context
The Sherwin-Williams Company
Paint Stores Group
Company-operated paint & coatings retail (architectural + related products)
United States, Canada, Caribbean
Professional contractors and DIY homeowners
Manufacturer-owned retail / distribution
57.1%
Waters Corporation
Waters instrument systems
Liquid chromatography (LC/UPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS) analytical instrument systems (including LC-MS workflows and instrument control/data system software)
Global
Pharma/biotech, industrial, academic and government laboratories
OEM + software/platform provider
34.9%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
The Sherwin-Williams Company strengths
Waters Corporation strengths
Segment mix
The Sherwin-Williams Company segments
Full profile >Paint Stores Group
Quasi-Monopoly
Consumer Brands Group
Oligopoly
Performance Coatings Group
Oligopoly
Waters Corporation segments
Full profile >Waters instrument systems
Oligopoly
Chemistry consumables
Competitive
Waters service & software maintenance
Competitive
TA instrument systems & service
Oligopoly
Want the full wide moat stocks list?
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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.