VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Monday, December 29, 2025

Stock Comparison

Kao Corporation vs Spirax Group 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

Spirax Group plc

SPX · London Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$6.7B
SectorIndustrials
CountryGB
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
71/ 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 Spirax Group plc's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View SPX analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Spirax Group plc leads (71 / 100 vs 60 / 100 for Kao Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Kao Corporation has 5 segments (33.5% in Hygiene Living Care Business); Spirax Group plc has 3 segments (52.1% in Steam Thermal Solutions).
  • Moat breadth: Kao Corporation has 5 moat types across 2 domains; Spirax Group plc 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%

Spirax Group plc

Steam Thermal Solutions

Market

Industrial and commercial steam systems (condensate management, controls, thermal energy management products and solutions)

Geography

Global

Customer

Industrial process operators and commercial facility operators

Role

OEM / solutions provider

Revenue share

52.1%

Side-by-side metrics

Kao Corporation
Spirax Group plc
Ticker / Exchange
4452 - Tokyo Stock Exchange
SPX - London Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$18.5B
$6.7B
Sector
Consumer
Industrials
HQ country
JP
GB
Primary segment
Hygiene Living Care Business
Steam Thermal 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
71 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Supply, Demand
Last update
2025-12-28
2025-12-28

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand TrustService Field NetworkCapex Knowhow ScaleDesign In Qualification

Kao Corporation strengths

Training Org Change Costs

Spirax Group plc strengths

Installed Base ConsumablesSuite Bundling

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%

Spirax Group plc segments

Full profile >

Steam Thermal Solutions

Oligopoly

52.1%

Electric Thermal Solutions

Competitive

24.3%

Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions

Oligopoly

23.6%

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.