VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

Watsco, Inc. vs West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

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

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

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

WST · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$20.1B
Gross margin (TTM)35.6%
Operating margin (TTM)20.9%
Net margin (TTM)16.3%
SectorHealthcare
IndustryMedical - Instruments & Supplies
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-22
Moat score
85/ 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 West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View WST analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. leads (85 / 100 vs 72 / 100 for Watsco, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Watsco, Inc. has 1 segment (100% in HVAC/R Distribution); West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has 2 segments (80.7% in Proprietary Products).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Watsco, Inc. has 4 moat types across 3 domains; West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has 5 across 3.

Primary market context

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%

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

Proprietary Products

Market

Injectable primary packaging components and containment/delivery systems (elastomeric stoppers, seals, plungers, syringe/cartridge components; related services)

Geography

Global

Customer

Biologic, generic, and pharmaceutical drug manufacturers

Role

Primary packaging and delivery component supplier

Revenue share

80.7%

Side-by-side metrics

Watsco, Inc.
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
WSO - New York Stock Exchange
WST - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$14.4B
$20.1B
Gross margin (TTM)
28.3%
35.6%
Operating margin (TTM)
10.2%
20.9%
Net margin (TTM)
7.4%
16.3%
Sector
Industrials
Healthcare
Industry
Industrial - Distribution
Medical - Instruments & Supplies
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
HVAC/R Distribution
Proprietary Products
Market structure
Competitive
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
9%-12% (implied)
70%-75% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
72 / 100
85 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Legal, Demand
Demand, Legal, Supply
Last update
2026-01-05
2025-12-22

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

Watsco, Inc. strengths

Physical Network DensityContractual ExclusivityScale Economies Unit CostData Workflow Lockin

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. strengths

Design In QualificationCompliance AdvantageBrand TrustCapex Knowhow ScaleOperational Excellence

Segment mix

Watsco, Inc. segments

Full profile >

HVAC/R Distribution

Competitive

100%

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Proprietary Products

Quasi-Monopoly

80.7%

Contract-Manufactured Products

Competitive

19.3%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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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.