VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

Kao Corporation vs Martin Marietta Materials, 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

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

MLM · NYSE

Market cap (USD)$37.9B
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorMaterials
IndustryConstruction Materials
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-01
Moat score
78/ 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 Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View MLM analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. leads (78 / 100 vs 60 / 100 for Kao Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Kao Corporation has 5 segments (33.5% in Hygiene Living Care Business); Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. has 3 segments (52.4% in East Group).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: Kao Corporation has 5 moat types across 2 domains; Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. has 4 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%

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

East Group

Market

Construction aggregates and asphalt products (crushed stone, sand & gravel; asphalt) in local/regional markets

Geography

United States (East/Southeast and adjacent regions)

Customer

Infrastructure agencies, construction contractors, and downstream materials producers (asphalt/ready-mix)

Role

Quarry/mining operator and building materials producer/distributor

Revenue share

52.4%

Side-by-side metrics

Kao Corporation
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
4452 - Tokyo Stock Exchange
MLM - NYSE
Market cap (USD)
$2.9T
$37.9B
Gross margin (TTM)
39.2%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
9.5%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
7.3%
n/a
Sector
Consumer
Materials
Industry
Household & Personal Products
Construction Materials
HQ country
JP
US
Primary segment
Hygiene Living Care Business
East Group
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
60 / 100
78 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Supply, Financial
Last update
2025-12-28
2026-01-01

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Capex Knowhow Scale

Kao Corporation strengths

Brand TrustTraining Org Change CostsService Field NetworkDesign In Qualification

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. strengths

Physical Network DensityGeographic NaturalBenchmark Pricing Power

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%

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. segments

Full profile >

East Group

Oligopoly

52.4%

West Group

Oligopoly

40.9%

Specialties (formerly Magnesia Specialties)

Oligopoly

6.7%

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.