VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Friday, January 2, 2026
Stock Comparison
Merck & Co., Inc. vs Novartis AG
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
Merck & 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 analysisNovartis AG
NOVN · SIX Swiss 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 Novartis AG's moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View NOVN analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: Merck & Co., Inc. leads (71 / 100 vs 65 / 100 for Novartis AG).
- Segment focus: Merck & Co., Inc. has 2 segments (89.5% in Pharmaceutical); Novartis AG has 5 segments (29.3% in Oncology).
- Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
- Moat breadth: Merck & Co., Inc. has 5 moat types across 3 domains; Novartis AG has 4 across 3.
Primary market context
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%
Novartis AG
Oncology
Oncology and hematology branded medicines (including targeted therapies and radioligand therapy)
Global
Oncologists and hospitals; reimbursed by payers; hospital and specialty pharmacy channels
Originator developer, manufacturer, and marketer of oncology therapies
29.3%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
Merck & Co., Inc. strengths
Novartis AG strengths
Segment mix
Merck & Co., Inc. segments
Full profile >Pharmaceutical
Competitive
Animal Health
Oligopoly
Novartis AG segments
Full profile >Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic
Oligopoly
Immunology
Oligopoly
Neuroscience
Oligopoly
Oncology
Oligopoly
Established Brands
Competitive
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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.