VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Thursday, January 8, 2026

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Stock Comparison

Kao Corporation vs KKR & Co. 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

KKR & Co. Inc.

KKR · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$119.9B
Gross margin (TTM)19.5%
Operating margin (TTM)2.6%
Net margin (TTM)14.1%
SectorFinancials
IndustryAsset Management
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-06
Moat score
67/ 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 KKR & Co. Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View KKR analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: KKR & Co. Inc. leads (67 / 100 vs 60 / 100 for Kao Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Kao Corporation has 5 segments (33.5% in Hygiene Living Care Business); KKR & Co. Inc. has 3 segments (52.3% in Asset Management).
  • Moat breadth: Kao Corporation has 5 moat types across 2 domains; KKR & Co. Inc. has 7 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%

KKR & Co. Inc.

Asset Management

Market

Alternative asset management (private equity, private credit, real assets, and related strategies)

Geography

Global

Customer

Institutional and wealth investors (LPs) allocating to private markets

Role

General partner / investment manager

Revenue share

52.3%

Side-by-side metrics

Kao Corporation
KKR & Co. Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
4452 - Tokyo Stock Exchange
KKR - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$2.9T
$119.9B
Gross margin (TTM)
39.2%
19.5%
Operating margin (TTM)
9.5%
2.6%
Net margin (TTM)
7.3%
14.1%
Sector
Consumer
Financials
Industry
Household & Personal Products
Asset Management
HQ country
JP
US
Primary segment
Hygiene Living Care Business
Asset Management
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
3.5%-5% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
60 / 100
67 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Demand, Supply, Financial, Legal
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

KKR & Co. Inc. strengths

Long Term ContractsScale Economies Unit CostDeal sourcing and origination relationshipsFloat PrepaymentCompliance AdvantageCapital markets and exit execution capability

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%

KKR & Co. Inc. segments

Full profile >

Asset Management

Oligopoly

52.3%

Insurance

Competitive

46.5%

Strategic Holdings

Competitive

1.2%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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

View the moat stocks list

Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

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

View expansion-stage stocks

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.