VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Stock Comparison

Alibaba Group Holding Limited vs International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.

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

Alibaba Group Holding Limited

9988.HK · The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited

Market cap (USD)
SectorConsumer
CountryKY
Data as of2025-12-29
Moat score
56/ 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 Alibaba Group Holding Limited's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View 9988.HK analysis

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.

IFF · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$17.4B
SectorMaterials
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-29
Moat score
59/ 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 International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View IFF analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. leads (59 / 100 vs 56 / 100 for Alibaba Group Holding Limited).
  • Segment focus: Alibaba Group Holding Limited has 7 segments (41% in Taobao and Tmall Group); International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. has 4 segments (31.2% in Food Ingredients).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Weak.
  • Moat breadth: Alibaba Group Holding Limited has 6 moat types across 3 domains; International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. has 8 across 3.

Primary market context

Alibaba Group Holding Limited

Taobao and Tmall Group

Market

China online retail marketplaces & merchant services (Taobao, Tmall, 1688)

Geography

China

Customer

Consumers and merchants/brands

Role

Marketplace + advertising/merchant services

Revenue share

41%

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.

Food Ingredients

Market

Specialty food ingredients (texturizers, food protection, plant proteins, emulsifiers, sweeteners)

Geography

Global

Customer

B2B (food manufacturers)

Role

Ingredient supplier

Revenue share

31.2%

Side-by-side metrics

Alibaba Group Holding Limited
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
9988.HK - The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited
IFF - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$17.4B
Sector
Consumer
Materials
HQ country
KY
US
Primary segment
Taobao and Tmall Group
Food Ingredients
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Weak
Moat score
56 / 100
59 / 100
Moat domains
Network, Supply, Demand
Demand, Legal, Supply
Last update
2025-12-29
2025-12-29

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Capex Knowhow ScaleSwitching Costs GeneralSupply Chain Control

Alibaba Group Holding Limited strengths

Two Sided NetworkEcosystem ComplementsBrand Trust

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. strengths

Design In QualificationIP Choke PointService Field NetworkCompliance AdvantageScale Economies Unit Cost

Segment mix

Alibaba Group Holding Limited segments

Full profile >

Taobao and Tmall Group

Oligopoly

41%

Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group

Competitive

12.1%

Cloud Intelligence Group (Alibaba Cloud)

Oligopoly

10.8%

Cainiao Smart Logistics Network Limited

Competitive

9.2%

Local Services Group

Oligopoly

6.1%

Digital Media and Entertainment Group

Competitive

2%

All Others

Competitive

18.8%

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. segments

Full profile >

Taste

Oligopoly

23.9%

Food Ingredients

Competitive

31.2%

Health & Biosciences

Oligopoly

21.4%

Scent

Oligopoly

23.6%

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.