VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Stock Comparison

Kao Corporation vs Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

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)$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

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

EW · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$50B
SectorHealthcare
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
82/ 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 Edwards Lifesciences Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View EW analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation leads (82 / 100 vs 60 / 100 for Kao Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Kao Corporation has 5 segments (33.5% in Hygiene Living Care Business); Edwards Lifesciences Corporation has 3 segments (75.5% in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)).
  • Moat breadth: Kao Corporation has 5 moat types across 2 domains; Edwards Lifesciences Corporation has 6 across 3.

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%

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

Market

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) devices

Geography

Global

Customer

Hospitals and structural heart centers

Role

Medical device manufacturer

Revenue share

75.5%

Side-by-side metrics

Kao Corporation
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
4452 - Tokyo Stock Exchange
EW - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$18.5B
$50B
Sector
Consumer
Healthcare
HQ country
JP
US
Primary segment
Hygiene Living Care Business
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
60%-73% (estimated)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
60 / 100
82 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Demand, Legal, Supply
Last update
2025-12-28
2025-12-31

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand TrustTraining Org Change Costs

Kao Corporation strengths

Service Field NetworkCapex Knowhow ScaleDesign In Qualification

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation strengths

Regulated Standards PipeIP Choke PointCompliance AdvantageSupply Chain Control

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%

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation segments

Full profile >

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

Oligopoly

75.5%

Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies (TMTT)

Competitive

6.5%

Surgical Structural Heart

Oligopoly

18%

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.