VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Monday, January 5, 2026

Stock Comparison

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited vs Meta Platforms, Inc.

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

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited

0388.HK · Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX)

Market cap (USD)$67.7B
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorFinancials
Industry
CountryHK
Data as of2026-01-03
Moat score
92/ 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 Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View 0388.HK analysis

Meta Platforms, Inc.

META · Nasdaq Global Select Market

Market cap (USD)$1.6T
Gross margin (TTM)82%
Operating margin (TTM)43.2%
Net margin (TTM)30.9%
SectorCommunication Services
IndustryInternet Content & Information
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-26
Moat score
94/ 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 Meta Platforms, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View META analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Meta Platforms, Inc. leads (94 / 100 vs 92 / 100 for Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited).
  • Segment focus: Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited has 4 segments (52.6% in Cash Markets); Meta Platforms, Inc. has 2 segments (98.7% in Family of Apps (FoA)).
  • Primary market structure: Monopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited has 9 moat types across 5 domains; Meta Platforms, Inc. has 6 across 2.

Primary market context

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited

Cash Markets

Market

Exchange-based cash equities trading, clearing and settlement in Hong Kong (including Stock Connect cash markets)

Geography

Hong Kong (with Mainland China Connect linkage)

Customer

Brokers, banks, proprietary trading firms, and investors; listed issuers via primary/secondary markets

Role

Exchange operator + clearing/settlement/depository operator

Revenue share

52.6%

Meta Platforms, Inc.

Family of Apps (FoA)

Market

Global social media platforms & social media advertising

Geography

Global

Customer

Consumers and advertisers

Role

Two-sided platform (attention + ad auction)

Revenue share

98.7%

Side-by-side metrics

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited
Meta Platforms, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
0388.HK - Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX)
META - Nasdaq Global Select Market
Market cap (USD)
$67.7B
$1.6T
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
82%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
43.2%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
30.9%
Sector
Financials
Communication Services
Industry
n/a
Internet Content & Information
HQ country
HK
US
Primary segment
Cash Markets
Family of Apps (FoA)
Market structure
Monopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
100% (reported)
55%-65% (estimated)
HHI estimate
10,000
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
92 / 100
94 / 100
Moat domains
Legal, Network, Financial, Supply, Demand
Network, Supply
Last update
2026-01-03
2025-12-26

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Two Sided NetworkDirect Network Effects

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited strengths

Concession LicenseClearing SettlementInteroperability HubBenchmark Pricing PowerPhysical Network DensityDistribution ControlSwitching Costs General

Meta Platforms, Inc. strengths

Data Network EffectsEcosystem ComplementsCapex Knowhow ScaleLearning Curve Yield

Segment mix

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited segments

Full profile >

Cash Markets

Monopoly

52.6%

Equity and Financial Derivatives

Monopoly

20.3%

Commodities (LME and related)

Oligopoly

14.8%

Data and Connectivity

Quasi-Monopoly

12.2%

Meta Platforms, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Family of Apps (FoA)

Oligopoly

98.7%

Reality Labs (RL)

Quasi-Monopoly

1.3%

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.