VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Stock Comparison

Altria Group, Inc. vs Merck & Co., Inc.

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

Altria Group, Inc.

MO · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)
SectorConsumer
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
88/ 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 Altria Group, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View MO analysis

Merck & Co., Inc.

MRK · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$250.9B
SectorHealthcare
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: Altria Group, Inc. leads (88 / 100 vs 71 / 100 for Merck & Co., Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Altria Group, Inc. has 3 segments (88.3% in Smokeable Products); Merck & Co., Inc. has 2 segments (89.5% in Pharmaceutical).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Altria Group, Inc. has 5 moat types across 3 domains; Merck & Co., Inc. has 5 across 3.

Primary market context

Altria Group, Inc.

Smokeable Products

Market

U.S. cigarettes and machine-made cigars

Geography

United States

Customer

Wholesalers/distributors and large retail organizations (serving adult tobacco consumers 21+)

Role

Manufacturer and brand owner

Revenue share

88.3%

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

Altria Group, Inc.
Merck & Co., Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
MO - New York Stock Exchange
MRK - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$250.9B
Sector
Consumer
Healthcare
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Smokeable Products
Pharmaceutical
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
45.9% (reported)
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Moderate
Moat score
88 / 100
71 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Financial, Legal
Legal, Supply, Demand
Last update
2025-12-30
2025-12-22

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Regulated Standards Pipe

Altria Group, Inc. strengths

Brand TrustHabit DefaultBenchmark Pricing PowerCompliance Advantage

Merck & Co., Inc. strengths

IP Choke PointCapex Knowhow ScaleScope EconomiesData Workflow Lockin

Segment mix

Altria Group, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Smokeable Products

Oligopoly

88.3%

Oral Tobacco Products

Oligopoly

11.6%

E-Vapor and New Products (NJOY, Horizon, R&D)

Competitive

0.2%

Merck & Co., Inc. segments

Full profile >

Pharmaceutical

Competitive

89.5%

Animal Health

Oligopoly

9.2%

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.