VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

AstraZeneca PLC vs Mastercard Incorporated

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

AstraZeneca PLC

AZN · London Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorHealthcare
Industry
CountryGB
Data as of2026-01-02
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 AstraZeneca PLC's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View AZN analysis

Mastercard Incorporated

MA · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$507.2B
Gross margin (TTM)77.5%
Operating margin (TTM)57%
Net margin (TTM)45.3%
SectorFinancials
IndustryFinancial - Credit Services
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-21
Moat score
77/ 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 Mastercard Incorporated's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View MA analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Mastercard Incorporated leads (77 / 100 vs 71 / 100 for AstraZeneca PLC).
  • Segment focus: AstraZeneca PLC has 6 segments (41% in Oncology); Mastercard Incorporated has 2 segments (61.5% in Payment Network).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: AstraZeneca PLC has 4 moat types across 3 domains; Mastercard Incorporated has 6 across 3.

Primary market context

AstraZeneca PLC

Oncology

Market

Innovator oncology therapeutics (branded prescription medicines)

Geography

Global

Customer

Hospitals, oncology clinics, payers

Role

Innovator biopharmaceutical company

Revenue share

41%

Mastercard Incorporated

Payment Network

Market

Four-party card payment network (switching, acceptance, and network-related services)

Geography

Global

Customer

Issuers, acquirers, merchants, account holders

Role

Network operator (authorization, clearing, settlement) and rules/standards steward

Revenue share

61.5%

Side-by-side metrics

AstraZeneca PLC
Mastercard Incorporated
Ticker / Exchange
AZN - London Stock Exchange
MA - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$507.2B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
77.5%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
57%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
45.3%
Sector
Healthcare
Financials
Industry
n/a
Financial - Credit Services
HQ country
GB
US
Primary segment
Oncology
Payment Network
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
29.7% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Moderate
Moat score
71 / 100
77 / 100
Moat domains
Legal, Supply, Demand
Network, Demand, Legal
Last update
2026-01-02
2025-12-21

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Regulated Standards PipeBrand Trust

AstraZeneca PLC strengths

IP Choke PointCapex Knowhow Scale

Mastercard Incorporated strengths

Two Sided NetworkClearing SettlementData Network EffectsData Workflow Lockin

Segment mix

AstraZeneca PLC segments

Full profile >

Oncology

Oligopoly

41%

Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM)

Competitive

23%

Respiratory & Immunology (R&I)

Oligopoly

15%

Vaccines & Immune Therapies (V&I)

Oligopoly

3%

Rare Disease

Oligopoly

16%

Other Medicines

Competitive

2%

Mastercard Incorporated segments

Full profile >

Payment Network

Oligopoly

61.5%

Value-Added Services and Solutions

Competitive

38.5%

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.