VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Stock Comparison
The Home Depot, Inc. vs Paychex, 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 analysisPaychex, Inc.
PAYX · NASDAQ Global Select 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 Paychex, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View PAYX analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: The Home Depot, Inc. leads (69 / 100 vs 66 / 100 for Paychex, Inc.).
- Segment focus: The Home Depot, Inc. has 2 segments (96% in Primary segment - North American home improvement retail (stores + online)); Paychex, Inc. has 3 segments (73% in Management Solutions).
- Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Weak vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: The Home Depot, Inc. has 4 moat types across 2 domains; Paychex, Inc. has 7 across 4.
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%
Paychex, Inc.
Management Solutions
Payroll processing and integrated HCM solutions for SMB and mid-market employers
United States (primarily)
Employers (SMB and mid-market)
HCM SaaS + outsourced payroll/HR service provider
73%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
No overlap yet.
The Home Depot, Inc. strengths
Paychex, 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
Paychex, Inc. segments
Full profile >Management Solutions
Oligopoly
PEO and Insurance Solutions
Competitive
Client funds float (interest on funds held for clients)
Oligopoly
Want the full wide moat stocks list?
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View the moat stocks listLooking for expansion-stage stocks?
Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.
View expansion-stage stocksCuration & 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.