VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Monday, December 29, 2025

Stock Comparison

The Hershey Company vs MercadoLibre, Inc.

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

The Hershey Company

HSY · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)
SectorConsumer
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-26
Moat score
75/ 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 The Hershey Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View HSY analysis

MercadoLibre, Inc.

MELI · NASDAQ

Market cap (USD)
SectorTechnology
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-29
Moat score
73/ 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 MercadoLibre, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View MELI analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: The Hershey Company leads (75 / 100 vs 73 / 100 for MercadoLibre, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: The Hershey Company has 3 segments (81.4% in North America Confectionery); MercadoLibre, Inc. has 2 segments (58.5% in Commerce (Marketplace, logistics, ads, classifieds)).
  • Moat breadth: The Hershey Company has 4 moat types across 2 domains; MercadoLibre, Inc. has 6 across 4.

Primary market context

The Hershey Company

North America Confectionery

Market

Branded chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery

Geography

United States and Canada

Customer

Retail consumers via grocery, mass, club and convenience

Role

Branded manufacturer and marketer

Revenue share

81.4%

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Commerce (Marketplace, logistics, ads, classifieds)

Market

Latin American e-commerce marketplace and commerce services (online marketplace, 1P retail, fulfillment/logistics, advertising)

Geography

Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and other countries)

Customer

Consumers (buyers) and merchants/brands (sellers), including MSMEs

Role

Marketplace operator + retailer + logistics orchestrator

Revenue share

58.5%

Side-by-side metrics

The Hershey Company
MercadoLibre, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
HSY - New York Stock Exchange
MELI - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
n/a
n/a
Sector
Consumer
Technology
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
North America Confectionery
Commerce (Marketplace, logistics, ads, classifieds)
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
34%-38% (reported)
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
75 / 100
73 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Network, Supply, Demand, Legal
Last update
2025-12-26
2025-12-29

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Distribution Control

The Hershey Company strengths

Brand TrustOperational ExcellenceScope Economies

MercadoLibre, Inc. strengths

Two Sided NetworkEcosystem ComplementsSwitching Costs GeneralData Workflow LockinCompliance Advantage

Segment mix

The Hershey Company segments

Full profile >

North America Confectionery

Oligopoly

81.4%

North America Salty Snacks

Oligopoly

10.1%

International

Competitive

8.5%

MercadoLibre, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Commerce (Marketplace, logistics, ads, classifieds)

Oligopoly

58.5%

Fintech (Mercado Pago & credit)

Competitive

41.5%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.

View the moat stocks list

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.