VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Wednesday, January 7, 2026

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Stock Comparison

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. vs Paychex, Inc.

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)$6.2T
Gross margin (TTM)41.4%
Operating margin (TTM)16.8%
Net margin (TTM)13.4%
SectorTechnology
IndustryHardware, Equipment & Parts
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

Paychex, Inc.

PAYX · NASDAQ Global Select Market

Market cap (USD)$39.4B
Gross margin (TTM)73.4%
Operating margin (TTM)37.1%
Net margin (TTM)26.5%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryStaffing & Employment Services
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-04
Moat score
66/ 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 Paychex, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View PAYX analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. leads (75 / 100 vs 66 / 100 for Paychex, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. has 6 segments (47.7% in Capacitors (primarily MLCC)); Paychex, Inc. has 3 segments (73% in Management Solutions).
  • Moat breadth: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. has 8 moat types across 4 domains; Paychex, Inc. has 7 across 4.

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%

Paychex, Inc.

Management Solutions

Market

Payroll processing and integrated HCM solutions for SMB and mid-market employers

Geography

United States (primarily)

Customer

Employers (SMB and mid-market)

Role

HCM SaaS + outsourced payroll/HR service provider

Revenue share

73%

Side-by-side metrics

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Paychex, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
6981 - Tokyo Stock Exchange
PAYX - NASDAQ Global Select Market
Market cap (USD)
$6.2T
$39.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
41.4%
73.4%
Operating margin (TTM)
16.8%
37.1%
Net margin (TTM)
13.4%
26.5%
Sector
Technology
Industrials
Industry
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
Staffing & Employment Services
HQ country
JP
US
Primary segment
Capacitors (primarily MLCC)
Management Solutions
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
38%-42% (reported)
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
75 / 100
66 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand, Financial, Legal
Demand, Supply, Legal, Financial
Last update
2025-12-30
2026-01-04

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Compliance Advantage

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. strengths

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

Paychex, Inc. strengths

Data Workflow LockinSuite BundlingService Field NetworkUnderwriting Risk PoolingSwitching Costs GeneralFloat Prepayment

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%

Paychex, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Management Solutions

Oligopoly

73%

PEO and Insurance Solutions

Competitive

24.1%

Client funds float (interest on funds held for clients)

Oligopoly

2.9%

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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Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.

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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.