VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Monday, December 29, 2025

Stock Comparison

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited vs Kao Corporation

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

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited

2330 · Taiwan Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)
SectorTechnology
CountryTW
Data as of2025-12-28
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 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View 2330 analysis

Kao Corporation

4452 · Tokyo Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$18.5B
SectorConsumer
CountryJP
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
60/ 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 Kao Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View 4452 analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited leads (92 / 100 vs 60 / 100 for Kao Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited has 3 segments (74% in Leading-edge Foundry (7nm and below)); Kao Corporation has 5 segments (33.5% in Hygiene Living Care Business).
  • Primary market structure: Quasi-Monopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited has 7 moat types across 4 domains; Kao Corporation has 5 across 2.

Primary market context

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited

Leading-edge Foundry (7nm and below)

Market

Leading-edge semiconductor foundry services (<=7nm logic process technologies)

Geography

Global

Customer

Fabless semiconductor companies, system companies, and IDMs

Role

Dedicated foundry / contract manufacturer

Revenue share

74%

Kao Corporation

Hygiene Living Care Business

Market

Household & fabric care and sanitary consumer packaged goods

Geography

Japan and Asia (with select global brands)

Customer

Consumers (retail)

Role

Branded manufacturer

Revenue share

33.5%

Side-by-side metrics

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
Kao Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
2330 - Taiwan Stock Exchange
4452 - Tokyo Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$18.5B
Sector
Technology
Consumer
HQ country
TW
JP
Primary segment
Leading-edge Foundry (7nm and below)
Hygiene Living Care Business
Market structure
Quasi-Monopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
70%-72% (reported)
n/a
HHI estimate
5,165
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Moderate
Moat score
92 / 100
60 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Network, Demand, Financial
Demand, Supply
Last update
2025-12-28
2025-12-28

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Capex Knowhow ScaleDesign In Qualification

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited strengths

Ecosystem ComplementsBenchmark Pricing PowerScope EconomiesOperational ExcellenceKeystone Component

Kao Corporation strengths

Brand TrustTraining Org Change CostsService Field Network

Segment mix

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited segments

Full profile >

Leading-edge Foundry (7nm and below)

Quasi-Monopoly

74%

Mature & Specialty Foundry (16nm and above + specialty processes)

Oligopoly

26%

Advanced Packaging & 3DFabric (CoWoS, InFO, SoIC)

Oligopoly

n/a

Kao Corporation segments

Full profile >

Hygiene Living Care Business

Oligopoly

33.5%

Health Beauty Care Business

Competitive

26%

Cosmetics Business

Competitive

15%

Business Connected Business

Competitive

2.4%

Chemical Business

Competitive

23.1%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.

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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.