VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Monday, December 29, 2025
Stock Comparison
Kao Corporation vs Costco Wholesale Corporation
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
Kao Corporation
4452 · Tokyo Stock Exchange
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 analysisCostco Wholesale Corporation
COST · Nasdaq Global Select Market
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into Costco Wholesale Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View COST analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: Costco Wholesale Corporation leads (80 / 100 vs 60 / 100 for Kao Corporation).
- Segment focus: Kao Corporation has 5 segments (33.5% in Hygiene Living Care Business); Costco Wholesale Corporation has 2 segments (98.1% in Warehouse club retail).
- Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Weak.
- Moat breadth: Kao Corporation has 5 moat types across 2 domains; Costco Wholesale Corporation has 6 across 3.
Primary market context
Kao Corporation
Hygiene Living Care Business
Household & fabric care and sanitary consumer packaged goods
Japan and Asia (with select global brands)
Consumers (retail)
Branded manufacturer
33.5%
Costco Wholesale Corporation
Warehouse club retail
Membership warehouse club retail (warehouse clubs, ancillary services, and e-commerce)
Global
Households and small businesses
Retailer (membership club)
98.1%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
Kao Corporation strengths
Costco Wholesale Corporation strengths
Segment mix
Kao Corporation segments
Full profile >Hygiene Living Care Business
Oligopoly
Health Beauty Care Business
Competitive
Cosmetics Business
Competitive
Business Connected Business
Competitive
Chemical Business
Competitive
Costco Wholesale Corporation segments
Full profile >Warehouse club retail
Oligopoly
Membership fees (subscription)
Oligopoly
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View the moat stocks listCuration & 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.