VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Wide Moat StocksExpansion-Stage Stocks Home My Collections

Stock Comparison

BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. vs Paychex, Inc.

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

BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.

BJ · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$12.3B
Gross margin (TTM)18.6%
Operating margin (TTM)3.9%
Net margin (TTM)2.7%
SectorConsumer
IndustryDiscount Stores
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-06
Moat score
60/ 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 BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View BJ analysis

Paychex, Inc.

PAYX · NASDAQ Global Select Market

Market cap (USD)$39.4B
Gross margin (TTM)73.4%
Operating margin (TTM)37.1%
Net margin (TTM)26.5%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryStaffing & Employment Services
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-04
Moat score
66/ 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 Paychex, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View PAYX analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Paychex, Inc. leads (66 / 100 vs 60 / 100 for BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. has 2 segments (97.8% in Merchandise and Gasoline Sales); Paychex, Inc. has 3 segments (73% in Management Solutions).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Weak vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Paychex, Inc. has 7 across 4.

Primary market context

BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.

Merchandise and Gasoline Sales

Market

Membership warehouse club retail (groceries, fresh foods, general merchandise, gasoline, ancillary services)

Geography

United States (primarily Eastern U.S.)

Customer

Households and small businesses (members)

Role

Retailer / warehouse club operator

Revenue share

97.8%

Paychex, Inc.

Management Solutions

Market

Payroll processing and integrated HCM solutions for SMB and mid-market employers

Geography

United States (primarily)

Customer

Employers (SMB and mid-market)

Role

HCM SaaS + outsourced payroll/HR service provider

Revenue share

73%

Side-by-side metrics

BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.
Paychex, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
BJ - New York Stock Exchange
PAYX - NASDAQ Global Select Market
Market cap (USD)
$12.3B
$39.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
18.6%
73.4%
Operating margin (TTM)
3.9%
37.1%
Net margin (TTM)
2.7%
26.5%
Sector
Consumer
Industrials
Industry
Discount Stores
Staffing & Employment Services
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Merchandise and Gasoline Sales
Management Solutions
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Weak
Moderate
Moat score
60 / 100
66 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Financial, Demand
Demand, Supply, Legal, Financial
Last update
2026-01-06
2026-01-04

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Float Prepayment

BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. strengths

Scale Economies Unit CostSupply Chain ControlPhysical Network DensityNegative Working CapitalBrand TrustHabit Default

Paychex, Inc. strengths

Data Workflow LockinSuite BundlingService Field NetworkCompliance AdvantageUnderwriting Risk PoolingSwitching Costs General

Segment mix

BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Merchandise and Gasoline Sales

Oligopoly

97.8%

Membership Fee Income

Oligopoly

2.2%

Paychex, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Management Solutions

Oligopoly

73%

PEO and Insurance Solutions

Competitive

24.1%

Client funds float (interest on funds held for clients)

Oligopoly

2.9%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.

View the moat stocks list

Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

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

View expansion-stage stocks

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.