VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Stock Comparison

ABB Ltd vs Merck & Co., Inc.

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

ABB Ltd

ABBN · SIX Swiss Exchange

Market cap (USD)$136.3B
SectorIndustrials
CountryCH
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
73/ 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 ABB Ltd's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View ABBN 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: ABB Ltd leads (73 / 100 vs 71 / 100 for Merck & Co., Inc.).
  • Segment focus: ABB Ltd has 4 segments (46.2% in Electrification); Merck & Co., Inc. has 2 segments (89.5% in Pharmaceutical).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: ABB Ltd has 6 moat types across 3 domains; Merck & Co., Inc. has 5 across 3.

Primary market context

ABB Ltd

Electrification

Market

Low- and medium-voltage electrification equipment and solutions

Geography

Global

Customer

B2B/B2G

Role

Manufacturer and solutions provider; channel-led distribution; after-sales service

Revenue share

46.2%

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

ABB Ltd
Merck & Co., Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
ABBN - SIX Swiss Exchange
MRK - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$136.3B
$250.9B
Sector
Industrials
Healthcare
HQ country
CH
US
Primary segment
Electrification
Pharmaceutical
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
73 / 100
71 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand, Network
Legal, Supply, Demand
Last update
2025-12-31
2025-12-22

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Data Workflow Lockin

ABB Ltd strengths

Distribution ControlBrand TrustService Field NetworkInstalled Base ConsumablesEcosystem Complements

Merck & Co., Inc. strengths

IP Choke PointRegulated Standards PipeCapex Knowhow ScaleScope Economies

Segment mix

ABB Ltd segments

Full profile >

Electrification

Oligopoly

46.2%

Motion

Oligopoly

22%

Process Automation

Oligopoly

20.5%

Robotics & Discrete Automation

Oligopoly

9.8%

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.