VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. vs Fastenal Company

Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

6981 · Tokyo Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$37.4B
Gross margin (TTM)41.4%
Operating margin (TTM)16.8%
Net margin (TTM)13.4%
SectorTechnology
CountryJP
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
75/ 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 Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View 6981 analysis

Fastenal Company

FAST · Nasdaq Stock Market

Market cap (USD)
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorIndustrials
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-01
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 Fastenal Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View FAST analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. leads (75 / 100 vs 60 / 100 for Fastenal Company).
  • Segment focus: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. has 6 segments (47.7% in Capacitors (primarily MLCC)); Fastenal Company has 3 segments (54.5% in Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Weak.
  • Moat breadth: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. has 8 moat types across 4 domains; Fastenal Company has 5 across 2.

Primary market context

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Capacitors (primarily MLCC)

Market

Multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC) and related capacitors

Geography

Global

Customer

Electronics OEMs and tier-1 suppliers (smartphone, PC/server, automotive, industrial)

Role

Component manufacturer / supplier

Revenue share

47.7%

Fastenal Company

Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)

Market

Industrial & construction supplies distribution (MRO/OEM consumables) via local branches

Geography

North America (primary) + select international

Customer

B2B

Role

Distributor / MRO supplier

Revenue share

54.5%

Side-by-side metrics

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Fastenal Company
Ticker / Exchange
6981 - Tokyo Stock Exchange
FAST - Nasdaq Stock Market
Market cap (USD)
$37.4B
n/a
Gross margin (TTM)
41.4%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
16.8%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
13.4%
n/a
Sector
Technology
Industrials
HQ country
JP
US
Primary segment
Capacitors (primarily MLCC)
Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
38%-42% (reported)
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Weak
Moat score
75 / 100
60 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand, Financial, Legal
Supply, Demand
Last update
2025-12-30
2026-01-01

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. strengths

Capex Knowhow ScaleLearning Curve YieldDesign In QualificationBenchmark Pricing PowerBrand TrustIP Choke PointCompliance AdvantageResidual segment

Fastenal Company strengths

Physical Network DensityOperational ExcellenceSwitching Costs GeneralData Workflow LockinScope Economies

Segment mix

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. segments

Full profile >

Capacitors (primarily MLCC)

Oligopoly

47.7%

Inductors and EMI Filters

Oligopoly

11.5%

High-Frequency Devices and Communications Modules

Oligopoly

25.4%

Batteries and Power Supply

Competitive

8.9%

Functional Devices (including sensors)

Competitive

5.6%

Other

Competitive

0.9%

Fastenal Company segments

Full profile >

Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)

Competitive

54.5%

Onsite solutions (embedded customer locations)

Competitive

42.4%

Other / non-traditional sales (services & custom manufacturing)

Competitive

3.1%

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.