VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Stock Comparison

Kao Corporation vs Nordson 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

Nordson Corporation

NDSN · NASDAQ

Market cap (USD)$13.6B
SectorIndustrials
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-29
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 Nordson Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View NDSN analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Nordson Corporation leads (67 / 100 vs 60 / 100 for Kao Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Kao Corporation has 5 segments (33.5% in Hygiene Living Care Business); Nordson Corporation has 3 segments (47.7% in Industrial Precision Solutions).
  • Moat breadth: Kao Corporation has 5 moat types across 2 domains; Nordson Corporation has 6 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%

Nordson Corporation

Industrial Precision Solutions

Market

Industrial precision dispensing, coating, and material-processing equipment (adhesives, coatings, sealants, polymers)

Geography

Global

Customer

Manufacturers and converters (packaging, nonwovens/hygiene, automotive, industrial, agriculture)

Role

Capital equipment OEM / process-solution provider

Revenue share

47.7%

Side-by-side metrics

Kao Corporation
Nordson Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
4452 - Tokyo Stock Exchange
NDSN - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$18.5B
$13.6B
Sector
Consumer
Industrials
HQ country
JP
US
Primary segment
Hygiene Living Care Business
Industrial Precision Solutions
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
60 / 100
67 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Supply, Demand
Last update
2025-12-28
2025-12-29

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Service Field NetworkCapex Knowhow ScaleDesign In Qualification

Kao Corporation strengths

Brand TrustTraining Org Change Costs

Nordson Corporation strengths

Switching Costs GeneralInstalled Base ConsumablesData Workflow Lockin

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%

Nordson Corporation segments

Full profile >

Industrial Precision Solutions

Oligopoly

47.7%

Medical and Fluid Solutions

Competitive

29.9%

Advanced Technology Solutions

Oligopoly

22.4%

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

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.