VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Stock Comparison

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. vs Starbucks Corporation

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

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.

IFF · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$17.4B
SectorMaterials
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-29
Moat score
59/ 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 International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View IFF analysis

Starbucks Corporation

SBUX · Nasdaq Global Select Market

Market cap (USD)$96.7B
SectorConsumer
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
70/ 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 Starbucks Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View SBUX analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Starbucks Corporation leads (70 / 100 vs 59 / 100 for International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.).
  • Segment focus: International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. has 4 segments (31.2% in Food Ingredients); Starbucks Corporation has 3 segments (73.6% in North America).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Competitive. Pricing power: Weak vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. has 8 moat types across 3 domains; Starbucks Corporation has 7 across 3.

Primary market context

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.

Food Ingredients

Market

Specialty food ingredients (texturizers, food protection, plant proteins, emulsifiers, sweeteners)

Geography

Global

Customer

B2B (food manufacturers)

Role

Ingredient supplier

Revenue share

31.2%

Starbucks Corporation

North America

Market

Branded coffeehouse retail (company-operated + licensed)

Geography

U.S. and Canada

Customer

Consumers

Role

Retailer / brand owner

Revenue share

73.6%

Side-by-side metrics

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
Starbucks Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
IFF - New York Stock Exchange
SBUX - Nasdaq Global Select Market
Market cap (USD)
$17.4B
$96.7B
Sector
Materials
Consumer
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Food Ingredients
North America
Market structure
Competitive
Competitive
Market share
n/a
35%-40% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Weak
Moderate
Moat score
59 / 100
70 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Legal, Supply
Demand, Supply, Legal
Last update
2025-12-29
2025-12-31

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. strengths

Design In QualificationIP Choke PointService Field NetworkSupply Chain ControlCompliance AdvantageSwitching Costs GeneralCapex Knowhow ScaleScale Economies Unit Cost

Starbucks Corporation strengths

Brand TrustHabit DefaultPhysical Network DensityOperational ExcellencePreferential Input AccessContractual ExclusivityScope Economies

Segment mix

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. segments

Full profile >

Taste

Oligopoly

23.9%

Food Ingredients

Competitive

31.2%

Health & Biosciences

Oligopoly

21.4%

Scent

Oligopoly

23.6%

Starbucks Corporation segments

Full profile >

North America

Competitive

73.6%

International

Competitive

21%

Channel Development

Oligopoly

5%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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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.