VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Stock Comparison
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation vs Merck & Co., Inc.
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
EW · 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 Edwards Lifesciences Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View EW 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: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation leads (82 / 100 vs 71 / 100 for Merck & Co., Inc.).
- Segment focus: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation has 3 segments (75.5% in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)); Merck & Co., Inc. has 2 segments (89.5% in Pharmaceutical).
- Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation has 6 moat types across 3 domains; Merck & Co., Inc. has 5 across 3.
Primary market context
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) devices
Global
Hospitals and structural heart centers
Medical device manufacturer
75.5%
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
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation strengths
Merck & Co., Inc. strengths
Segment mix
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation segments
Full profile >Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
Oligopoly
Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies (TMTT)
Competitive
Surgical Structural Heart
Oligopoly
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.