VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Monday, December 29, 2025

Stock Comparison

Heineken N.V. vs Merck & Co., Inc.

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

Heineken N.V.

HEIA · Euronext Amsterdam

Market cap (USD)
SectorConsumer
CountryNL
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
65/ 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 Heineken N.V.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View HEIA analysis

Merck & Co., Inc.

MRK · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$250.9B
SectorHealthcare
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 65 / 100 for Heineken N.V.).
  • Segment focus: Heineken N.V. has 4 segments (38.7% in Europe); Merck & Co., Inc. has 2 segments (89.5% in Pharmaceutical).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Heineken N.V. has 5 moat types across 2 domains; Merck & Co., Inc. has 5 across 3.

Primary market context

Heineken N.V.

Europe

Market

Beer, cider and beyond-beer alcoholic beverages

Geography

Europe

Customer

Consumers via on-trade (bars/restaurants) and off-trade (retail/wholesale)

Role

Brewer / brand owner / route-to-market operator

Revenue share

38.7%

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

Heineken N.V.
Merck & Co., Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
HEIA - Euronext Amsterdam
MRK - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$250.9B
Sector
Consumer
Healthcare
HQ country
NL
US
Primary segment
Europe
Pharmaceutical
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
65 / 100
71 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Legal, Supply, Demand
Last update
2025-12-28
2025-12-22

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Data Workflow Lockin

Heineken N.V. strengths

Brand TrustDistribution ControlScale Economies Unit CostOperational Excellence

Merck & Co., Inc. strengths

IP Choke PointRegulated Standards PipeCapex Knowhow ScaleScope Economies

Segment mix

Heineken N.V. segments

Full profile >

Europe

Oligopoly

38.7%

Americas

Oligopoly

34%

Africa & Middle East

Oligopoly

13.5%

Asia Pacific

Oligopoly

13.8%

Merck & Co., Inc. segments

Full profile >

Pharmaceutical

Competitive

89.5%

Animal Health

Oligopoly

9.2%

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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.