VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Stock Comparison
Apple Inc. vs Paychex, Inc.
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
Apple Inc.
AAPL · NASDAQ
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Paychex, Inc.
PAYX · NASDAQ Global Select Market
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 analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: Apple Inc. leads (87 / 100 vs 66 / 100 for Paychex, Inc.).
- Segment focus: Apple Inc. has 5 segments (50.4% in iPhone); Paychex, Inc. has 3 segments (73% in Management Solutions).
- Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: Apple Inc. has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Paychex, Inc. has 7 across 4.
Primary market context
Apple Inc.
iPhone
Smartphones (with focus on premium smartphones and iOS ecosystem devices)
Global
Consumers and enterprises (end-users), plus carrier/retail channels
OEM / platform owner
50.4%
Paychex, Inc.
Management Solutions
Payroll processing and integrated HCM solutions for SMB and mid-market employers
United States (primarily)
Employers (SMB and mid-market)
HCM SaaS + outsourced payroll/HR service provider
73%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
Apple Inc. strengths
Paychex, Inc. strengths
Segment mix
Apple Inc. segments
Full profile >iPhone
Oligopoly
Mac
Oligopoly
iPad
Oligopoly
Wearables, Home and Accessories
Competitive
Services
Quasi-Monopoly
Paychex, Inc. segments
Full profile >Management Solutions
Oligopoly
PEO and Insurance Solutions
Competitive
Client funds float (interest on funds held for clients)
Oligopoly
Want the full wide moat stocks list?
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View the moat stocks listLooking for expansion-stage stocks?
Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.
View expansion-stage stocksCuration & 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.