VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

Kao Corporation vs Casey's General Stores, Inc.

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

Kao Corporation

4452 · Tokyo Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$2.9T
Gross margin (TTM)39.2%
Operating margin (TTM)9.5%
Net margin (TTM)7.3%
SectorConsumer
IndustryHousehold & Personal Products
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

Casey's General Stores, Inc.

CASY · NASDAQ

Market cap (USD)$21B
Gross margin (TTM)23.4%
Operating margin (TTM)5.3%
Net margin (TTM)3.6%
SectorConsumer
IndustrySpecialty Retail
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-06
Moat score
54/ 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 Casey's General Stores, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View CASY analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Kao Corporation leads (60 / 100 vs 54 / 100 for Casey's General Stores, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Kao Corporation has 5 segments (33.5% in Hygiene Living Care Business); Casey's General Stores, Inc. has 4 segments (61.3% in Fuel).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Weak.
  • Moat breadth: Kao Corporation has 5 moat types across 2 domains; Casey's General Stores, Inc. has 7 across 2.

Primary market context

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%

Casey's General Stores, Inc.

Fuel

Market

Retail motor fuel sold through convenience-store fuel sites (gasoline and diesel)

Geography

United States (Casey's operating footprint; Midwest/South)

Customer

Motorists / consumers (in-store and pay-at-the-pump transactions)

Role

Fuel retailer (with some self-distribution/wholesale capabilities)

Revenue share

61.3%

Side-by-side metrics

Kao Corporation
Casey's General Stores, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
4452 - Tokyo Stock Exchange
CASY - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$2.9T
$21B
Gross margin (TTM)
39.2%
23.4%
Operating margin (TTM)
9.5%
5.3%
Net margin (TTM)
7.3%
3.6%
Sector
Consumer
Consumer
Industry
Household & Personal Products
Specialty Retail
HQ country
JP
US
Primary segment
Hygiene Living Care Business
Fuel
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Weak
Moat score
60 / 100
54 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Demand, Supply
Last update
2025-12-28
2026-01-06

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand Trust

Kao Corporation strengths

Training Org Change CostsService Field NetworkCapex Knowhow ScaleDesign In Qualification

Casey's General Stores, Inc. strengths

Operational ExcellencePhysical Network DensityDistribution ControlHabit DefaultSupply Chain ControlScope Economies

Segment mix

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%

Casey's General Stores, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Prepared Food and Dispensed Beverage

Competitive

10.1%

Grocery and General Merchandise

Competitive

26%

Fuel

Competitive

61.3%

Other (wholesale fuel, car wash, lottery)

Competitive

2.6%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.

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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.