VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Monday, December 29, 2025

Stock Comparison

Kao Corporation vs Melrose Industries PLC

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

Melrose Industries PLC

MRO · London Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$10B
SectorIndustrials
CountryGB
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
77/ 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 Melrose Industries PLC's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View MRO analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Melrose Industries PLC leads (77 / 100 vs 60 / 100 for Kao Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Kao Corporation has 5 segments (33.5% in Hygiene Living Care Business); Melrose Industries PLC has 2 segments (57.9% in Structures).
  • Moat breadth: Kao Corporation has 5 moat types across 2 domains; Melrose Industries PLC has 5 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%

Melrose Industries PLC

Structures

Market

Aerostructures and aircraft electrical wiring systems (EWIS)

Geography

Global

Customer

Airframe OEMs; defence primes

Role

Tier-1 aerospace supplier

Revenue share

57.9%

Side-by-side metrics

Kao Corporation
Melrose Industries PLC
Ticker / Exchange
4452 - Tokyo Stock Exchange
MRO - London Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$18.5B
$10B
Sector
Consumer
Industrials
HQ country
JP
GB
Primary segment
Hygiene Living Care Business
Structures
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
60 / 100
77 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Demand, Supply
Last update
2025-12-28
2025-12-28

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Service Field NetworkCapex Knowhow ScaleDesign In Qualification

Kao Corporation strengths

Brand TrustTraining Org Change Costs

Melrose Industries PLC strengths

Long Term ContractsCapacity Moat

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%

Melrose Industries PLC segments

Full profile >

Engines

Oligopoly

42.1%

Structures

Oligopoly

57.9%

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.