VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Stock Comparison

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. vs International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.

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

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.

EL · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)
SectorConsumer
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-23
Moat score
70/ 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 The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View EL analysis

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.

IFF · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$17.4B
SectorMaterials
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-29
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 International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View IFF analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. leads (70 / 100 vs 59 / 100 for International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.).
  • Segment focus: The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. has 5 segments (48.6% in Skin Care); International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. has 4 segments (31.2% in Food Ingredients).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Strong vs Weak.
  • Moat breadth: The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. has 4 moat types across 2 domains; International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. has 8 across 3.

Primary market context

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.

Skin Care

Market

Prestige skin care products

Geography

Global

Customer

Consumers

Role

Branded manufacturer/marketer

Revenue share

48.6%

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.

Food Ingredients

Market

Specialty food ingredients (texturizers, food protection, plant proteins, emulsifiers, sweeteners)

Geography

Global

Customer

B2B (food manufacturers)

Role

Ingredient supplier

Revenue share

31.2%

Side-by-side metrics

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
EL - New York Stock Exchange
IFF - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$17.4B
Sector
Consumer
Materials
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Skin Care
Food Ingredients
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Weak
Moat score
70 / 100
59 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Demand, Legal, Supply
Last update
2025-12-23
2025-12-29

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. strengths

Brand TrustDistribution ControlOperational ExcellenceScope Economies

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. strengths

Design In QualificationIP Choke PointService Field NetworkSupply Chain ControlCompliance AdvantageSwitching Costs GeneralCapex Knowhow ScaleScale Economies Unit Cost

Segment mix

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. segments

Full profile >

Skin Care

Oligopoly

48.6%

Makeup

Oligopoly

29.4%

Fragrance

Oligopoly

17.4%

Hair Care

Competitive

3.9%

Other

Competitive

0.7%

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. segments

Full profile >

Taste

Oligopoly

23.9%

Food Ingredients

Competitive

31.2%

Health & Biosciences

Oligopoly

21.4%

Scent

Oligopoly

23.6%

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

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.