VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Stock Comparison

BAE Systems plc vs Cochlear Limited

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

BAE Systems plc

BA. · London Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$55.2B
Gross margin (TTM)8.6%
Operating margin (TTM)9.3%
Net margin (TTM)7.4%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryAerospace & Defense
CountryGB
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
75/ 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 BAE Systems plc's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View BA. analysis

Cochlear Limited

COH · ASX

Market cap (USD)$17B
Gross margin (TTM)74.5%
Operating margin (TTM)22.7%
Net margin (TTM)16.2%
SectorHealthcare
IndustryMedical - Devices
CountryAU
Data as of2026-01-04
Moat score
81/ 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 Cochlear Limited's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View COH analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Cochlear Limited leads (81 / 100 vs 75 / 100 for BAE Systems plc).
  • Segment focus: BAE Systems plc has 5 segments (26.6% in Electronic Systems); Cochlear Limited has 3 segments (62.4% in Cochlear Implants).
  • Moat breadth: BAE Systems plc has 8 moat types across 3 domains; Cochlear Limited has 8 across 3.

Primary market context

BAE Systems plc

Electronic Systems

Market

Defence electronics (electronic warfare, avionics, C4ISR, space payloads and mission systems)

Geography

Primarily US and UK; global programmes

Customer

Government defence and intelligence agencies; prime contractors

Role

Subsystem OEM and prime contractor for electronics/mission systems

Revenue share

26.6%

Cochlear Limited

Cochlear Implants

Market

Cochlear implant systems (internal implant + external sound processors) for severe-to-profound hearing loss

Geography

Global

Customer

Hospitals/ENT clinics and audiology programs (providers) serving implant candidates/recipients; reimbursed by public/private payers

Role

Medical device OEM / platform owner (implant + processor + fitting software + clinical support)

Revenue share

62.4%

Side-by-side metrics

BAE Systems plc
Cochlear Limited
Ticker / Exchange
BA. - London Stock Exchange
COH - ASX
Market cap (USD)
$55.2B
$17B
Gross margin (TTM)
8.6%
74.5%
Operating margin (TTM)
9.3%
22.7%
Net margin (TTM)
7.4%
16.2%
Sector
Industrials
Healthcare
Industry
Aerospace & Defense
Medical - Devices
HQ country
GB
AU
Primary segment
Electronic Systems
Cochlear Implants
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
60%-65% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
75 / 100
81 / 100
Moat domains
Legal, Demand, Supply
Demand, Legal, Supply
Last update
2025-12-28
2026-01-04

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Compliance AdvantageService Field NetworkCapex Knowhow Scale

BAE Systems plc strengths

Government Contracting RelationshipsDesign In QualificationLong Term ContractsCapacity MoatSwitching Costs General

Cochlear Limited strengths

Brand TrustIP Choke PointInstalled Base ConsumablesFormat Lock InData Workflow Lockin

Segment mix

BAE Systems plc segments

Full profile >

Electronic Systems

Oligopoly

26.6%

Platforms & Services

Oligopoly

16.3%

Air

Oligopoly

26%

Maritime

Oligopoly

22.5%

Cyber & Intelligence

Competitive

8.6%

Cochlear Limited segments

Full profile >

Cochlear Implants

Oligopoly

62.4%

Services

Monopoly

25.9%

Acoustics

Oligopoly

11.7%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.

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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.