VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Friday, January 2, 2026
Stock Comparison
Fastenal Company vs Merck & Co., Inc.
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
Fastenal Company
FAST · Nasdaq Stock Market
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into Fastenal Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View FAST 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: Merck & Co., Inc. leads (71 / 100 vs 60 / 100 for Fastenal Company).
- Segment focus: Fastenal Company has 3 segments (54.5% in Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)); Merck & Co., Inc. has 2 segments (89.5% in Pharmaceutical).
- Primary market structure: Competitive vs Competitive. Pricing power: Weak vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: Fastenal Company has 5 moat types across 2 domains; Merck & Co., Inc. has 5 across 3.
Primary market context
Fastenal Company
Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)
Industrial & construction supplies distribution (MRO/OEM consumables) via local branches
North America (primary) + select international
B2B
Distributor / MRO supplier
54.5%
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
Fastenal Company strengths
Merck & Co., Inc. strengths
Segment mix
Fastenal Company segments
Full profile >Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)
Competitive
Onsite solutions (embedded customer locations)
Competitive
Other / non-traditional sales (services & custom manufacturing)
Competitive
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.