VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Sunday, January 11, 2026

Stock Comparison

Kao Corporation vs The Italian Sea Group S.p.A.

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

The Italian Sea Group S.p.A.

TISG · Euronext Milan (Borsa Italiana)

Market cap (USD)$241.7M
Gross margin (TTM)70.9%
Operating margin (TTM)12.1%
Net margin (TTM)3.8%
SectorConsumer
IndustryLeisure
CountryIT
Data as of2026-01-08
Moat score
61/ 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 The Italian Sea Group S.p.A.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View TISG analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: The Italian Sea Group S.p.A. leads (61 / 100 vs 60 / 100 for Kao Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Kao Corporation has 5 segments (33.5% in Hygiene Living Care Business); The Italian Sea Group S.p.A. has 2 segments (89.7% in Shipbuilding).
  • Moat breadth: Kao Corporation has 5 moat types across 2 domains; The Italian Sea Group S.p.A. has 5 across 3.

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%

The Italian Sea Group S.p.A.

Shipbuilding

Market

Luxury yacht and superyacht shipbuilding (motor and sailing, 24m+ projects under construction/contract)

Geography

Global

Customer

Ultra-high-net-worth individuals (owners) and yacht brokers; occasional fleet/charter buyers

Role

Designer/shipyard (OEM) and brand owner

Revenue share

89.7%

Side-by-side metrics

Kao Corporation
The Italian Sea Group S.p.A.
Ticker / Exchange
4452 - Tokyo Stock Exchange
TISG - Euronext Milan (Borsa Italiana)
Market cap (USD)
$2.9T
$241.7M
Gross margin (TTM)
39.2%
70.9%
Operating margin (TTM)
9.5%
12.1%
Net margin (TTM)
7.3%
3.8%
Sector
Consumer
Consumer
Industry
Household & Personal Products
Leisure
HQ country
JP
IT
Primary segment
Hygiene Living Care Business
Shipbuilding
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
1.8%-2.2% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
60 / 100
61 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Demand, Supply, Legal
Last update
2025-12-28
2026-01-08

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand Trust

Kao Corporation strengths

Training Org Change CostsService Field NetworkCapex Knowhow ScaleDesign In Qualification

The Italian Sea Group S.p.A. strengths

Supply Chain ControlConcession LicenseLong Term ContractsOperational Excellence

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%

The Italian Sea Group S.p.A. segments

Full profile >

Shipbuilding

Oligopoly

89.7%

Refit

Competitive

10.3%

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.