VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Monday, December 29, 2025
Stock Comparison
James Hardie Industries plc vs Merck & Co., Inc.
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
James Hardie Industries plc
JHX · ASX
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into James Hardie Industries plc's moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View JHX 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: James Hardie Industries plc leads (74 / 100 vs 71 / 100 for Merck & Co., Inc.).
- Segment focus: James Hardie Industries plc has 4 segments (64.2% in Siding & Trim); Merck & Co., Inc. has 2 segments (89.5% in Pharmaceutical).
- Primary market structure: Quasi-Monopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: James Hardie Industries plc has 5 moat types across 2 domains; Merck & Co., Inc. has 5 across 3.
Primary market context
James Hardie Industries plc
Siding & Trim
North American fiber cement exterior siding & trim (plus related exterior products)
North America (primarily U.S. and Canada)
Homebuilders, contractors, remodelers, dealers/distributors, and retailers
Manufacturer / branded building-products supplier
64.2%
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
James Hardie Industries plc strengths
Merck & Co., Inc. strengths
Segment mix
James Hardie Industries plc segments
Full profile >Siding & Trim
Quasi-Monopoly
Deck, Rail & Accessories
Oligopoly
Australia & New Zealand
Oligopoly
Europe
Competitive
Merck & Co., Inc. segments
Full profile >Pharmaceutical
Competitive
Animal Health
Oligopoly
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 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.