WSO vs LII Comparison

Watsco is the largest HVAC and refrigeration products distributor in North America with approximately 13% market share. The company primarily operates in the United States (90% of revenue) with significant exposure in the Sunbelt states. Watsco also has operations in Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The company's customer base comprises more than 120,000 dealers and contractors serving the replacement and new-construction HVAC/R markets for residential and light-commercial applications. As much as 20% of residential HVAC units are distributed through Watsco in any given year. Revenue is approximately 75%-80% residential HVAC and 20%-25% commercial, with relatively small exposure to more complex "applied" solutions.

Lennox International manufacturers and distributes heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration products for the North American replacement (75% of sales) and new construction (25% of sales) markets. Residential HVAC (home comfort solutions) accounted for 67% of sales and commercial HVAC (building climate solutions) accounted for the remaining 33% of sales. To be clear, Lennox's commercial exposure is what its peers refer to as "residential and light commercial," lacks the scale and complexity of what is referred to as an "applied" solution. The company goes to market with multiple brands, but Lennox is the company's flagship HVAC brand.