VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

Wolters Kluwer N.V. vs Watsco, Inc.

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

Wolters Kluwer N.V.

WKL · Euronext Amsterdam

Market cap (USD)$21.1B
Gross margin (TTM)66.5%
Operating margin (TTM)24.8%
Net margin (TTM)18.3%
SectorIndustrials
IndustrySpecialty Business Services
CountryNL
Data as of2025-12-29
Moat score
73/ 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 Wolters Kluwer N.V.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View WKL 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: Wolters Kluwer N.V. leads (73 / 100 vs 72 / 100 for Watsco, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Wolters Kluwer N.V. has 5 segments (26.8% in Health); Watsco, Inc. has 1 segment (100% in HVAC/R Distribution).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Wolters Kluwer N.V. has 6 moat types across 2 domains; Watsco, Inc. has 4 across 3.

Primary market context

Wolters Kluwer N.V.

Health

Market

Clinical decision support and clinical drug information solutions (point-of-care) for healthcare providers

Geography

Global

Customer

Hospitals/health systems, clinicians, payers, and academic institutions

Role

Software + expert content provider

Revenue share

26.8%

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

Wolters Kluwer N.V.
Watsco, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
WKL - Euronext Amsterdam
WSO - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$21.1B
$14.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
66.5%
28.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
24.8%
10.2%
Net margin (TTM)
18.3%
7.4%
Sector
Industrials
Industrials
Industry
Specialty Business Services
Industrial - Distribution
HQ country
NL
US
Primary segment
Health
HVAC/R Distribution
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
85%-90% (reported)
9%-12% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Moderate
Moat score
73 / 100
72 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Legal
Supply, Legal, Demand
Last update
2025-12-29
2026-01-05

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Data Workflow Lockin

Wolters Kluwer N.V. strengths

Brand TrustSuite BundlingCompliance AdvantageSwitching Costs GeneralLong Term Contracts

Watsco, Inc. strengths

Physical Network DensityContractual ExclusivityScale Economies Unit Cost

Segment mix

Wolters Kluwer N.V. segments

Full profile >

Health

Oligopoly

26.8%

Tax & Accounting

Oligopoly

26.4%

Financial & Corporate Compliance

Oligopoly

20.8%

Legal & Regulatory

Oligopoly

16%

Corporate Performance & ESG

Competitive

10.1%

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.