VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Stock Comparison

Aon plc vs Cadence Design Systems, Inc.

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

Aon plc

AON · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$76.6B
SectorFinancials
CountryIE
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
70/ 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 Aon plc's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View AON analysis

Cadence Design Systems, Inc.

CDNS · NASDAQ

Market cap (USD)$86.5B
SectorTechnology
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-29
Moat score
84/ 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 Cadence Design Systems, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View CDNS analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Cadence Design Systems, Inc. leads (84 / 100 vs 70 / 100 for Aon plc).
  • Segment focus: Aon plc has 2 segments (67% in Risk Capital); Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has 3 segments (71% in Core EDA).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: Aon plc has 6 moat types across 3 domains; Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has 8 across 3.

Primary market context

Aon plc

Risk Capital

Market

Large-account commercial insurance & reinsurance brokerage and risk advisory

Geography

Global

Customer

Enterprises, insurers, reinsurers

Role

Intermediary/advisor

Revenue share

67%

Cadence Design Systems, Inc.

Core EDA

Market

Electronic design automation tools for semiconductor IC design and verification (digital, custom/analog, signoff, functional verification)

Geography

Global

Customer

Semiconductor designers (fabless and IDMs) and system companies with in-house silicon teams

Role

Tool vendor / workflow platform

Revenue share

71%

Side-by-side metrics

Aon plc
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
AON - New York Stock Exchange
CDNS - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$76.6B
$86.5B
Sector
Financials
Technology
HQ country
IE
US
Primary segment
Risk Capital
Core EDA
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
29%-31% (estimated)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
70 / 100
84 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Demand, Legal, Supply
Last update
2025-12-31
2025-12-29

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Data Workflow LockinService Field Network

Aon plc strengths

Switching Costs GeneralBrand TrustCompliance AdvantageScale Economies Unit Cost

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. strengths

Suite BundlingLong Term ContractsDesign In QualificationInstalled Base ConsumablesIP Choke PointCapex Knowhow Scale

Segment mix

Aon plc segments

Full profile >

Risk Capital

Oligopoly

67%

Human Capital

Oligopoly

33.2%

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Core EDA

Oligopoly

71%

Semiconductor IP

Oligopoly

13%

System Design and Analysis

Competitive

16%

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.