VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Monday, January 5, 2026

Stock Comparison

Kao Corporation vs Emerson Electric Co.

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

Emerson Electric Co.

EMR · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$76.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorIndustrials
Industry
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-02
Moat score
70/ 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 Emerson Electric Co.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View EMR analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Emerson Electric Co. leads (70 / 100 vs 60 / 100 for Kao Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Kao Corporation has 5 segments (33.5% in Hygiene Living Care Business); Emerson Electric Co. has 6 segments (24.2% in Final Control).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: Kao Corporation has 5 moat types across 2 domains; Emerson Electric Co. has 10 across 4.

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%

Emerson Electric Co.

Final Control

Market

Industrial control valves, isolation/shutoff valves, pressure relief & safety valves, actuators and regulators

Geography

Global

Customer

Process & hybrid manufacturers

Role

Automation components supplier

Revenue share

24.2%

Side-by-side metrics

Kao Corporation
Emerson Electric Co.
Ticker / Exchange
4452 - Tokyo Stock Exchange
EMR - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$2.9T
$76.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
39.2%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
9.5%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
7.3%
n/a
Sector
Consumer
Industrials
Industry
Household & Personal Products
n/a
HQ country
JP
US
Primary segment
Hygiene Living Care Business
Final Control
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
60 / 100
70 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Demand, Supply, Legal, Network
Last update
2025-12-28
2026-01-02

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand TrustService Field NetworkDesign In Qualification

Kao Corporation strengths

Training Org Change CostsCapex Knowhow Scale

Emerson Electric Co. strengths

Installed Base ConsumablesCompliance AdvantageDistribution ControlData Workflow LockinSuite BundlingEcosystem ComplementsInteroperability Hub

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%

Emerson Electric Co. segments

Full profile >

Final Control

Oligopoly

24.2%

Measurement & Analytical

Oligopoly

22.9%

Discrete Automation

Competitive

13.9%

Safety & Productivity

Competitive

7.5%

Control Systems & Software

Oligopoly

23.2%

Test & Measurement

Competitive

8.2%

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.