VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Stock Comparison

Nintendo Co., Ltd. vs Costco Wholesale Corporation

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

Nintendo Co., Ltd.

7974.JP · Tokyo Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)
SectorCommunication Services
CountryJP
Data as of2026-01-01
Moat score
76/ 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 Nintendo Co., Ltd.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View 7974.JP analysis

Costco Wholesale Corporation

COST · Nasdaq Global Select Market

Market cap (USD)$379.8B
SectorConsumer
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-21
Moat score
80/ 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 Costco Wholesale Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View COST analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Costco Wholesale Corporation leads (80 / 100 vs 76 / 100 for Nintendo Co., Ltd.).
  • Segment focus: Nintendo Co., Ltd. has 3 segments (90.2% in Nintendo Switch platform ecosystem); Costco Wholesale Corporation has 2 segments (98.1% in Warehouse club retail).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Weak.
  • Moat breadth: Nintendo Co., Ltd. has 5 moat types across 3 domains; Costco Wholesale Corporation has 6 across 3.

Primary market context

Nintendo Co., Ltd.

Nintendo Switch platform ecosystem

Market

Dedicated console gaming platform ecosystem (hardware + software + digital storefront + online services)

Geography

Global

Customer

Consumers

Role

Platform owner / first-party publisher

Revenue share

90.2%

Costco Wholesale Corporation

Warehouse club retail

Market

Membership warehouse club retail (warehouse clubs, ancillary services, and e-commerce)

Geography

Global

Customer

Households and small businesses

Role

Retailer (membership club)

Revenue share

98.1%

Side-by-side metrics

Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Costco Wholesale Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
7974.JP - Tokyo Stock Exchange
COST - Nasdaq Global Select Market
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$379.8B
Sector
Communication Services
Consumer
HQ country
JP
US
Primary segment
Nintendo Switch platform ecosystem
Warehouse club retail
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Weak
Moat score
76 / 100
80 / 100
Moat domains
Network, Demand, Legal
Supply, Financial, Demand
Last update
2026-01-01
2025-12-21

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand Trust

Nintendo Co., Ltd. strengths

Ecosystem ComplementsSwitching Costs GeneralIP Choke PointContent Rights Currency

Costco Wholesale Corporation strengths

Scale Economies Unit CostOperational ExcellenceNegative Working CapitalHabit DefaultFloat Prepayment

Segment mix

Nintendo Co., Ltd. segments

Full profile >

Nintendo Switch platform ecosystem

Oligopoly

90.2%

Mobile and IP-related income

Competitive

5.8%

Other products and legacy platforms

Competitive

4%

Costco Wholesale Corporation segments

Full profile >

Warehouse club retail

Oligopoly

98.1%

Membership fees (subscription)

Oligopoly

1.9%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.

View the moat stocks list

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.