VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Stock Comparison
The Home Depot, Inc. vs Merck & Co., Inc.
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
The Home Depot, Inc.
HD · 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 The Home Depot, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View HD 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 69 / 100 for The Home Depot, Inc.).
- Segment focus: The Home Depot, Inc. has 2 segments (96% in Primary segment - North American home improvement retail (stores + online)); Merck & Co., Inc. has 2 segments (89.5% in Pharmaceutical).
- Primary market structure: Competitive vs Competitive. Pricing power: Weak vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: The Home Depot, Inc. has 4 moat types across 2 domains; Merck & Co., Inc. has 5 across 3.
Primary market context
The Home Depot, Inc.
Primary segment - North American home improvement retail (stores + online)
Home improvement retail (omnichannel)
North America (US, Canada, Mexico)
DIY homeowners and professional contractors
Retailer
96%
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
No overlap yet.
The Home Depot, Inc. strengths
Merck & Co., Inc. strengths
Segment mix
The Home Depot, Inc. segments
Full profile >Primary segment - North American home improvement retail (stores + online)
Competitive
Other - Specialty trade distribution (SRS: roofing, landscape, pool)
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.