VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Stock Comparison

BlackRock, Inc. vs Universal Music Group N.V.

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

BlackRock, Inc.

BLK · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$168.1B
SectorFinancials
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
59/ 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 BlackRock, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View BLK analysis

Universal Music Group N.V.

UMG · Euronext Amsterdam

Market cap (USD)
SectorCommunication Services
CountryNL
Data as of2025-12-28
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 Universal Music Group N.V.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View UMG analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Universal Music Group N.V. leads (77 / 100 vs 59 / 100 for BlackRock, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: BlackRock, Inc. has 7 segments (33% in iShares ETFs & ETPs); Universal Music Group N.V. has 3 segments (75.2% in Recorded Music).
  • Moat breadth: BlackRock, Inc. has 10 moat types across 2 domains; Universal Music Group N.V. has 5 across 3.

Primary market context

BlackRock, Inc.

iShares ETFs & ETPs

Market

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and exchange-traded products (ETPs)

Geography

Global

Customer

Institutional and retail (via intermediaries)

Role

ETF sponsor / asset manager

Revenue share

33%

Universal Music Group N.V.

Recorded Music

Market

Recorded music rights (labels) and monetization (streaming, physical, licensing/sync)

Geography

Global

Customer

Digital service providers (audio/video/social), physical retailers, and licensing counterparties

Role

Label / master rights holder; artist development, marketing and distribution

Revenue share

75.2%

Side-by-side metrics

BlackRock, Inc.
Universal Music Group N.V.
Ticker / Exchange
BLK - New York Stock Exchange
UMG - Euronext Amsterdam
Market cap (USD)
$168.1B
n/a
Sector
Financials
Communication Services
HQ country
US
NL
Primary segment
iShares ETFs & ETPs
Recorded Music
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
28.3% (reported)
31%-33% (estimated)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
59 / 100
77 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand
Legal, Supply, Demand
Last update
2025-12-31
2025-12-28

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Scale Economies Unit CostBrand TrustLong Term Contracts

BlackRock, Inc. strengths

Distribution ControlOperational ExcellenceSwitching Costs GeneralSuite BundlingProcurement InertiaScope EconomiesData Workflow Lockin

Universal Music Group N.V. strengths

Content Rights CurrencyService Field Network

Segment mix

BlackRock, Inc. segments

Full profile >

iShares ETFs & ETPs

Oligopoly

33%

Institutional Index Mandates (Non-ETF)

Oligopoly

5.7%

Active & Multi-Asset (Public Markets)

Competitive

27.5%

Alternatives & Private Markets

Oligopoly

13.5%

Cash Management (MMFs & cash solutions)

Competitive

5.1%

Aladdin & Technology Services

Oligopoly

7.9%

Distribution & Advisory Services

Competitive

7.3%

Universal Music Group N.V. segments

Full profile >

Recorded Music

Oligopoly

75.2%

Music Publishing

Oligopoly

17.9%

Merchandising and Other

Competitive

7.1%

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.