VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

* WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON *

NO ADVICE

Monday, December 29, 2025

Stock Comparison

HOYA Corporation vs Merck & Co., Inc.

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

HOYA Corporation

7741 · Tokyo Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$23.6B
SectorHealthcare
CountryJP
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
72/ 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 HOYA Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View 7741 analysis

Merck & Co., Inc.

MRK · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$250.9B
SectorHealthcare
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-22
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 Merck & Co., Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View MRK analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: HOYA Corporation leads (72 / 100 vs 71 / 100 for Merck & Co., Inc.).
  • Segment focus: HOYA Corporation has 5 segments (48.2% in Eye Health Domain (healthcare-related products)); Merck & Co., Inc. has 2 segments (89.5% in Pharmaceutical).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: HOYA Corporation has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Merck & Co., Inc. has 5 across 3.

Primary market context

HOYA Corporation

Eye Health Domain (healthcare-related products)

Market

Ophthalmic products (eyeglass lenses, contact lens retail, intraocular lenses)

Geography

Global (eyeglass lenses & IOL); Japan (contact lens retail)

Customer

Optical retailers, consumers, hospitals/clinics

Role

Manufacturer and retailer

Revenue share

48.2%

Merck & Co., Inc.

Pharmaceutical

Market

Branded prescription pharmaceuticals & human vaccines

Geography

Global

Customer

Wholesalers/retailers, managed care and government payers, hospitals/clinics

Role

R&D-intensive innovator, manufacturer, and marketer

Revenue share

89.5%

Side-by-side metrics

HOYA Corporation
Merck & Co., Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
7741 - Tokyo Stock Exchange
MRK - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$23.6B
$250.9B
Sector
Healthcare
Healthcare
HQ country
JP
US
Primary segment
Eye Health Domain (healthcare-related products)
Pharmaceutical
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
72 / 100
71 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Legal, Supply, Demand
Last update
2025-12-28
2025-12-22

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

HOYA Corporation strengths

Brand TrustPhysical Network DensityCompliance AdvantageReputation ReviewsDesign In QualificationLearning Curve YieldNiche speech synthesis portfolio

Merck & Co., Inc. strengths

IP Choke PointRegulated Standards PipeCapex Knowhow ScaleScope EconomiesData Workflow Lockin

Segment mix

HOYA Corporation segments

Full profile >

Eye Health Domain (healthcare-related products)

Oligopoly

48.2%

Med-Tech Domain (medical-related products)

Oligopoly

15.4%

Electronics-related products (semiconductor/display photomask materials, HDD substrates)

Oligopoly

30.6%

Imaging-related products (optical lenses and optical materials)

Competitive

5.3%

Other (speech synthesis software)

Competitive

0.5%

Merck & Co., Inc. segments

Full profile >

Pharmaceutical

Competitive

89.5%

Animal Health

Oligopoly

9.2%

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.