VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

DSM-Firmenich AG vs Paychex, Inc.

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

DSM-Firmenich AG

DSFIR · Euronext Amsterdam

Market cap (USD)$17.8B
Gross margin (TTM)34.1%
Operating margin (TTM)9.2%
Net margin (TTM)5.5%
SectorMaterials
IndustryHousehold & Personal Products
CountryCH
Data as of2025-12-29
Moat score
63/ 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 DSM-Firmenich AG's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View DSFIR 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 63 / 100 for DSM-Firmenich AG).
  • Segment focus: DSM-Firmenich AG has 4 segments (31% in Perfumery & Beauty); Paychex, Inc. has 3 segments (73% in Management Solutions).
  • Moat breadth: DSM-Firmenich AG has 10 moat types across 4 domains; Paychex, Inc. has 7 across 4.

Primary market context

DSM-Firmenich AG

Perfumery & Beauty

Market

B2B fragrances, perfumery ingredients, and beauty ingredients

Geography

Global

Customer

Consumer brands (fine fragrance, personal care, home care) and beauty brands

Role

Ingredient supplier / fragrance house (co-creation + ingredient palette)

Revenue share

31%

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

DSM-Firmenich AG
Paychex, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
DSFIR - Euronext Amsterdam
PAYX - NASDAQ Global Select Market
Market cap (USD)
$17.8B
$39.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
34.1%
73.4%
Operating margin (TTM)
9.2%
37.1%
Net margin (TTM)
5.5%
26.5%
Sector
Materials
Industrials
Industry
Household & Personal Products
Staffing & Employment Services
HQ country
CH
US
Primary segment
Perfumery & Beauty
Management Solutions
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
63 / 100
66 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand, Legal, Network
Demand, Supply, Legal, Financial
Last update
2025-12-29
2026-01-04

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Compliance AdvantageService Field NetworkData Workflow Lockin

DSM-Firmenich AG strengths

Supply Chain ControlTraining Org Change CostsIP Choke PointScope EconomiesLearning Curve YieldDesign In QualificationEcosystem Complements

Paychex, Inc. strengths

Suite BundlingUnderwriting Risk PoolingSwitching Costs GeneralFloat Prepayment

Segment mix

DSM-Firmenich AG segments

Full profile >

Perfumery & Beauty

Oligopoly

31%

Taste, Texture & Health

Oligopoly

25.4%

Health, Nutrition & Care

Competitive

17.3%

Animal Nutrition & Health

Competitive

26%

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.