VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

Lotus Bakeries NV vs Merck & Co., Inc.

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

Lotus Bakeries NV

LOTB · Euronext Brussels

Market cap (USD)$6.9B
Gross margin (TTM)28.7%
Operating margin (TTM)16.5%
Net margin (TTM)12.3%
SectorConsumer
IndustryPackaged Foods
CountryBE
Data as of2026-01-06
Moat score
64/ 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 Lotus Bakeries NV's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View LOTB analysis

Merck & Co., Inc.

MRK · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$270B
Gross margin (TTM)78.3%
Operating margin (TTM)36.4%
Net margin (TTM)29.6%
SectorHealthcare
IndustryDrug Manufacturers - General
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 64 / 100 for Lotus Bakeries NV).
  • Segment focus: Lotus Bakeries NV has 3 segments (56% in Lotus Biscoff); Merck & Co., Inc. has 2 segments (89.5% in Pharmaceutical).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Lotus Bakeries NV has 5 moat types across 2 domains; Merck & Co., Inc. has 5 across 3.

Primary market context

Lotus Bakeries NV

Lotus Biscoff

Market

Branded caramelised biscuits (speculoos) and Biscoff spread

Geography

Global

Customer

Consumers via retail and away-from-home channels

Role

Brand owner and manufacturer

Revenue share

56%

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

Lotus Bakeries NV
Merck & Co., Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
LOTB - Euronext Brussels
MRK - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$6.9B
$270B
Gross margin (TTM)
28.7%
78.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
16.5%
36.4%
Net margin (TTM)
12.3%
29.6%
Sector
Consumer
Healthcare
Industry
Packaged Foods
Drug Manufacturers - General
HQ country
BE
US
Primary segment
Lotus Biscoff
Pharmaceutical
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Moderate
Moat score
64 / 100
71 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Legal, Supply, Demand
Last update
2026-01-06
2025-12-22

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Capex Knowhow Scale

Lotus Bakeries NV strengths

Brand TrustHabit DefaultCapacity MoatDistribution Control

Merck & Co., Inc. strengths

IP Choke PointRegulated Standards PipeScope EconomiesData Workflow Lockin

Segment mix

Lotus Bakeries NV segments

Full profile >

Lotus Biscoff

Oligopoly

56%

Lotus Natural Foods

Competitive

24%

Lotus Local Heroes

Competitive

20%

Merck & Co., Inc. segments

Full profile >

Pharmaceutical

Competitive

89.5%

Animal Health

Oligopoly

9.2%

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.