VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

TransUnion vs Watsco, Inc.

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

TransUnion

TRU · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$16.9B
Gross margin (TTM)52.8%
Operating margin (TTM)18.7%
Net margin (TTM)9.5%
SectorFinancials
IndustryConsulting Services
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-23
Moat score
61/ 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 TransUnion's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View TRU 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 61 / 100 for TransUnion).
  • Segment focus: TransUnion has 4 segments (34.2% in U.S. Markets - Financial Services); Watsco, Inc. has 1 segment (100% in HVAC/R Distribution).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: TransUnion has 8 moat types across 4 domains; Watsco, Inc. has 4 across 3.

Primary market context

TransUnion

U.S. Markets - Financial Services

Market

U.S. consumer credit bureau data & risk analytics for lenders

Geography

United States

Customer

B2B (banks, lenders, fintechs, mortgage/auto originators)

Role

Consumer reporting agency & decisioning analytics provider

Revenue share

34.2%

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

TransUnion
Watsco, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
TRU - New York Stock Exchange
WSO - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$16.9B
$14.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
52.8%
28.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
18.7%
10.2%
Net margin (TTM)
9.5%
7.4%
Sector
Financials
Industrials
Industry
Consulting Services
Industrial - Distribution
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
U.S. Markets - Financial Services
HVAC/R Distribution
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
9%-12% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
61 / 100
72 / 100
Moat domains
Network, Demand, Legal, Supply
Supply, Legal, Demand
Last update
2025-12-23
2026-01-05

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Data Workflow Lockin

TransUnion strengths

Standards RegistryData Network EffectsCompliance AdvantageScope EconomiesBrand TrustHabit DefaultDe Facto Standard

Watsco, Inc. strengths

Physical Network DensityContractual ExclusivityScale Economies Unit Cost

Segment mix

TransUnion segments

Full profile >

U.S. Markets - Financial Services

Oligopoly

34.2%

U.S. Markets - Emerging Verticals

Competitive

29%

U.S. Markets - Consumer Interactive

Competitive

14%

International

Oligopoly

22.8%

Watsco, Inc. segments

Full profile >

HVAC/R Distribution

Competitive

100%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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

View the moat stocks list

Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.

View expansion-stage stocks

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.