VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

Danaher Corporation vs Paychex, Inc.

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

Danaher Corporation

DHR · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$168.6B
Gross margin (TTM)61.4%
Operating margin (TTM)22.2%
Net margin (TTM)14.4%
SectorHealthcare
IndustryMedical - Diagnostics & Research
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-22
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 Danaher Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View DHR 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: Danaher Corporation leads (77 / 100 vs 66 / 100 for Paychex, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Danaher Corporation has 3 segments (41% in Diagnostics); Paychex, Inc. has 3 segments (73% in Management Solutions).
  • Moat breadth: Danaher Corporation has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Paychex, Inc. has 7 across 4.

Primary market context

Danaher Corporation

Diagnostics

Market

In vitro diagnostics instruments, consumables, software and services (clinical lab, acute care/POC, pathology, molecular diagnostics)

Geography

Global

Customer

Hospitals, physician offices, reference laboratories, pathology labs, critical care settings

Role

IVD device manufacturer and reagent/test supplier + software/services

Revenue share

41%

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

Danaher Corporation
Paychex, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
DHR - New York Stock Exchange
PAYX - NASDAQ Global Select Market
Market cap (USD)
$168.6B
$39.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
61.4%
73.4%
Operating margin (TTM)
22.2%
37.1%
Net margin (TTM)
14.4%
26.5%
Sector
Healthcare
Industrials
Industry
Medical - Diagnostics & Research
Staffing & Employment Services
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Diagnostics
Management Solutions
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
77 / 100
66 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Demand, Supply, Legal, Financial
Last update
2025-12-22
2026-01-04

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Service Field NetworkSuite Bundling

Danaher Corporation strengths

Installed Base ConsumablesDesign In QualificationOperational ExcellenceLearning Curve YieldRegulated Standards Pipe

Paychex, Inc. strengths

Data Workflow LockinCompliance AdvantageUnderwriting Risk PoolingSwitching Costs GeneralFloat Prepayment

Segment mix

Danaher Corporation segments

Full profile >

Biotechnology

Oligopoly

28.3%

Life Sciences

Oligopoly

30.7%

Diagnostics

Oligopoly

41%

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?

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Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

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.