VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Monday, December 29, 2025

Stock Comparison

Merck & Co., Inc. vs Pernod Ricard SA

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

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

Pernod Ricard SA

RI · Euronext Paris

Market cap (USD)$21.7B
SectorConsumer
CountryFR
Data as of2025-12-29
Moat score
75/ 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 Pernod Ricard SA's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View RI analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Pernod Ricard SA leads (75 / 100 vs 71 / 100 for Merck & Co., Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Merck & Co., Inc. has 2 segments (89.5% in Pharmaceutical); Pernod Ricard SA has 3 segments (42.3% in Asia/Rest of the World).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Merck & Co., Inc. has 5 moat types across 3 domains; Pernod Ricard SA has 4 across 2.

Primary market context

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%

Pernod Ricard SA

Asia/Rest of the World

Market

Premium spirits brand ownership, marketing, and distribution

Geography

Asia-Pacific, Africa, and other emerging markets

Customer

On-trade, off-trade, distributors, and duty-free operators

Role

Brand owner and local-market route-to-market operator

Revenue share

42.3%

Side-by-side metrics

Merck & Co., Inc.
Pernod Ricard SA
Ticker / Exchange
MRK - New York Stock Exchange
RI - Euronext Paris
Market cap (USD)
$250.9B
$21.7B
Sector
Healthcare
Consumer
HQ country
US
FR
Primary segment
Pharmaceutical
Asia/Rest of the World
Market structure
Competitive
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
71 / 100
75 / 100
Moat domains
Legal, Supply, Demand
Demand, Supply
Last update
2025-12-22
2025-12-29

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Scope Economies

Merck & Co., Inc. strengths

IP Choke PointRegulated Standards PipeCapex Knowhow ScaleData Workflow Lockin

Pernod Ricard SA strengths

Brand TrustCapacity MoatDistribution Control

Segment mix

Merck & Co., Inc. segments

Full profile >

Pharmaceutical

Competitive

89.5%

Animal Health

Oligopoly

9.2%

Pernod Ricard SA segments

Full profile >

Europe

Oligopoly

28.9%

Americas

Oligopoly

28.8%

Asia/Rest of the World

Oligopoly

42.3%

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.