VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Stock Comparison
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. vs Merck & Co., Inc.
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
CDNS · NASDAQ
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 analysisMerck & Co., Inc.
MRK · New York Stock Exchange
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into Merck & Co., Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View MRK analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: Cadence Design Systems, Inc. leads (84 / 100 vs 71 / 100 for Merck & Co., Inc.).
- Segment focus: Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has 3 segments (71% in Core EDA); Merck & Co., Inc. has 2 segments (89.5% in Pharmaceutical).
- Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has 8 moat types across 3 domains; Merck & Co., Inc. has 5 across 3.
Primary market context
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
Core EDA
Electronic design automation tools for semiconductor IC design and verification (digital, custom/analog, signoff, functional verification)
Global
Semiconductor designers (fabless and IDMs) and system companies with in-house silicon teams
Tool vendor / workflow platform
71%
Merck & Co., Inc.
Pharmaceutical
Branded prescription pharmaceuticals & human vaccines
Global
Wholesalers/retailers, managed care and government payers, hospitals/clinics
R&D-intensive innovator, manufacturer, and marketer
89.5%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. strengths
Merck & Co., Inc. strengths
Segment mix
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. segments
Full profile >Core EDA
Oligopoly
Semiconductor IP
Oligopoly
System Design and Analysis
Competitive
Merck & Co., Inc. segments
Full profile >Pharmaceutical
Competitive
Animal Health
Oligopoly
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View the moat stocks listCuration & 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.