VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 3, 2026

Stock Comparison

The Sherwin-Williams Company vs Xero Limited

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

Market cap (USD)$81.5B
Gross margin (TTM)48.9%
Operating margin (TTM)15.9%
Net margin (TTM)11.1%
SectorMaterials
IndustryChemicals - Specialty
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
84/ 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 The Sherwin-Williams Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View SHW analysis

Xero Limited

XRO · Australian Securities Exchange

Market cap (USD)
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorTechnology
Industry
CountryNZ
Data as of2026-01-02
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 Xero Limited's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View XRO analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: The Sherwin-Williams Company leads (84 / 100 vs 71 / 100 for Xero Limited).
  • Segment focus: The Sherwin-Williams Company has 3 segments (57.1% in Paint Stores Group); Xero Limited has 2 segments.
  • 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; Xero Limited has 7 across 3.

Primary market context

The Sherwin-Williams Company

Paint Stores Group

Market

Company-operated paint & coatings retail (architectural + related products)

Geography

United States, Canada, Caribbean

Customer

Professional contractors and DIY homeowners

Role

Manufacturer-owned retail / distribution

Revenue share

57.1%

Xero Limited

Core Accounting Subscription Platform

Market

Cloud accounting software for small businesses and their advisors

Geography

Global

Customer

SMB; accountants & bookkeepers

Role

Software platform (SaaS)

Side-by-side metrics

The Sherwin-Williams Company
Xero Limited
Ticker / Exchange
SHW - New York Stock Exchange
XRO - Australian Securities Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$81.5B
n/a
Gross margin (TTM)
48.9%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
15.9%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
11.1%
n/a
Sector
Materials
Technology
Industry
Chemicals - Specialty
n/a
HQ country
US
NZ
Primary segment
Paint Stores Group
Core Accounting Subscription Platform
Market structure
Quasi-Monopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
69.4% (estimated)
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Moderate
Moat score
84 / 100
71 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand, Legal
Demand, Network, Financial
Last update
2025-12-31
2026-01-02

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Switching Costs General

The Sherwin-Williams Company strengths

Distribution ControlService Field NetworkBrand TrustScope EconomiesCompliance Advantage

Xero Limited strengths

Data Workflow LockinTwo Sided NetworkBenchmark Pricing PowerInteroperability HubEcosystem ComplementsSuite Bundling

Segment mix

The Sherwin-Williams Company segments

Full profile >

Paint Stores Group

Quasi-Monopoly

57.1%

Consumer Brands Group

Oligopoly

13.5%

Performance Coatings Group

Oligopoly

29.4%

Xero Limited segments

Full profile >

Core Accounting Subscription Platform

Oligopoly

n/a

Platform Services (Payments, Payroll, App Ecosystem)

Competitive

n/a

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.

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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.