EQS (Equus Total Return) Moat Score: 2/10 (As of Aug. 27, 2026)

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EQS Equus Total Return Inc EQS
28 GF Score
Price $1.03
! 1 Warning Sign
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What is Equus Total Return Moat Score?

Equus Total Return EQS -0.96% 28 Moat Score is 2 as of Aug. 27, 2026. GuruFocus rates EQS with a GF Score™ of 28/100. The stock has 1 warning sign investors should review. Among 1,689 Asset Management companies, Equus Total Return ranks better than 80.05% on this metric.

Equus Total Return has the Moat Score of 2, which implies that the company might have No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages.

Equus Total Return has No Moat: EQS lacks discernible competitive advantages, with no strong market position, brand strength, or regulatory barriers. Its investment focus does not provide a sustainable moat.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes Equus Total Return might have No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages.

Equus Total Return  (NYSE:EQS) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

Equus Total Return Moat Score Related Terms

EQS vs AVAT, FXBY, ICMB: Moat Score Comparison

For the Asset Management subindustry, Equus Total Return's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.

Equus Total Return Moat Score vs Asset Management Industry

For the Asset Management industry and Financial Services sector, Equus Total Return's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Equus Total Return's Moat Score falls into.


EQS
28GF Score
Equus Total Return Inc EQS
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 2 mean?
Equus Total Return (EQS) has a Moat Score of 2 as of Aug. 27, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, Equus Total Return ranks #337 out of 1689 companies in the Asset Management industry, placing it in the top 20%.
Is Equus Total Return's Moat Score too high?
Equus Total Return's current Moat Score is 2. Based on the distribution chart, Equus Total Return ranks #337 out of 1689 companies in the Asset Management industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Equus Total Return has a GF Score™ of 28/100, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Equus Total Return's Moat Score compare to AVAT and FXBY?
According to the Asset Management industry distribution chart, Equus Total Return ranks #337 out of 1689 companies for Moat Score. This places Equus Total Return in the top 20% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for an Asset Management company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Asset Management industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. Equus Total Return's current Moat Score is 2. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Equus Total Return stock overvalued right now?
Equus Total Return (EQS) has a current Moat Score of 2. The current Moat Score is 2. Equus Total Return's overall GF Score™ is 28/100 with 1 warning sign to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Equus Total Return (EQS), the current Moat Score is 2 as of Aug. 27, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Equus Total Return Business Description

Address 700 Louisiana Street, 41st Floor, Houston, TX, USA, 77002
Equus Total Return Inc is a United States-based closed-end management investment company. The company invests mainly in companies pursuing growth either through acquisition or organically, leveraged buyouts, management buyouts, and recapitalizations of existing businesses or special situations, and achieves capital appreciation by making investments in equity and equity-oriented securities issued by privately-owned companies or smaller public companies in transactions.
28GF Score

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Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

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