VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Stock Comparison

EssilorLuxottica vs Merck & Co., Inc.

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

EssilorLuxottica

EL · Euronext Paris

Market cap (USD)$110.3B
Gross margin (TTM)61.5%
Operating margin (TTM)12.4%
Net margin (TTM)8.5%
SectorHealthcare
IndustryMedical - Instruments & Supplies
CountryFR
Data as of2026-01-11
Moat score
69/ 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 EssilorLuxottica's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View EL analysis

Merck & Co., Inc.

MRK · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$305.4B
Gross margin (TTM)81.5%
Operating margin (TTM)41.2%
Net margin (TTM)28.1%
SectorHealthcare
IndustryDrug Manufacturers - General
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-22
Moat score
71/ 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 Merck & Co., Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View MRK analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Merck & Co., Inc. leads (71 / 100 vs 69 / 100 for EssilorLuxottica).
  • Segment focus: EssilorLuxottica has 2 segments (52.7% in Direct to Consumer); Merck & Co., Inc. has 2 segments (89.5% in Pharmaceutical).
  • Moat breadth: EssilorLuxottica has 5 moat types across 3 domains; Merck & Co., Inc. has 5 across 3.

Primary market context

EssilorLuxottica

Direct to Consumer

Market

Optical retail and e-commerce (prescription eyewear and sunglasses)

Geography

Global

Customer

Consumers (end-users)

Role

Omnichannel retailer + vertically integrated manufacturer/brand owner

Revenue share

52.7%

Merck & Co., Inc.

Pharmaceutical

Market

Branded prescription pharmaceuticals & human vaccines

Geography

Global

Customer

Wholesalers/retailers, managed care and government payers, hospitals/clinics

Role

R&D-intensive innovator, manufacturer, and marketer

Revenue share

89.5%

Side-by-side metrics

EssilorLuxottica
Merck & Co., Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
EL - Euronext Paris
MRK - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$110.3B
$305.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
61.5%
81.5%
Operating margin (TTM)
12.4%
41.2%
Net margin (TTM)
8.5%
28.1%
Sector
Healthcare
Healthcare
Industry
Medical - Instruments & Supplies
Drug Manufacturers - General
HQ country
FR
US
Primary segment
Direct to Consumer
Pharmaceutical
Market structure
Competitive
Competitive
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
69 / 100
71 / 100
Moat domains
Legal, Supply, Demand
Legal, Supply, Demand
Last update
2026-01-11
2025-12-22

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

IP Choke Point

EssilorLuxottica strengths

Distribution ControlScale Economies Unit CostBrand TrustContractual Exclusivity

Merck & Co., Inc. strengths

Regulated Standards PipeCapex Knowhow ScaleScope EconomiesData Workflow Lockin

Segment mix

EssilorLuxottica segments

Full profile >

Professional Solutions

Oligopoly

47.3%

Direct to Consumer

Competitive

52.7%

Merck & Co., Inc. segments

Full profile >

Pharmaceutical

Competitive

89.5%

Animal Health

Oligopoly

9.2%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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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.