VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Stock Comparison

Lam Research Corporation vs Microsoft Corporation

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

Lam Research Corporation

LRCX · 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 Lam Research Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View LRCX analysis

Microsoft Corporation

MSFT · Nasdaq Global Select Market

Market cap (USD)$3.6T
SectorTechnology
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-21
Moat score
84/ 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 Microsoft Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View MSFT analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Microsoft Corporation leads (84 / 100 vs 73 / 100 for Lam Research Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Lam Research Corporation has 2 segments (62.3% in Systems); Microsoft Corporation has 3 segments (42.9% in Productivity and Business Processes).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: Lam Research Corporation has 6 moat types across 2 domains; Microsoft Corporation has 9 across 4.

Primary market context

Lam Research Corporation

Systems

Market

Wafer fabrication equipment (etch, deposition, clean and related wafer processing tools)

Geography

Global

Customer

Semiconductor manufacturers (memory, foundry, logic/IDM)

Role

Equipment OEM

Revenue share

62.3%

Microsoft Corporation

Productivity and Business Processes

Market

Enterprise productivity & collaboration suites, business applications, and professional network platforms

Geography

Global

Customer

Enterprises, SMBs, consumers, recruiters/advertisers

Role

SaaS platform + professional network

Revenue share

42.9%

Side-by-side metrics

Lam Research Corporation
Microsoft Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
LRCX - NASDAQ
MSFT - Nasdaq Global Select Market
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$3.6T
Sector
Technology
Technology
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Systems
Productivity and Business Processes
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
8%-12% (implied)
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
73 / 100
84 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Demand, Network, Supply, Legal
Last update
2025-12-29
2025-12-21

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Capex Knowhow ScaleData Workflow Lockin

Lam Research Corporation strengths

Design In QualificationLearning Curve YieldInstalled Base ConsumablesService Field Network

Microsoft Corporation strengths

Suite BundlingLong Term ContractsTwo Sided NetworkEcosystem ComplementsOperational ExcellenceDefault OS GatewayContent Rights Currency

Segment mix

Lam Research Corporation segments

Full profile >

Systems

Oligopoly

62.3%

Customer Support Business Group (CSBG)

Quasi-Monopoly

37.7%

Microsoft Corporation segments

Full profile >

Productivity and Business Processes

Oligopoly

42.9%

Intelligent Cloud

Oligopoly

37.7%

More Personal Computing

Quasi-Monopoly

19.4%

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.