VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Stock Comparison

Merck & Co., Inc. vs ResMed Inc.

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)$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

ResMed Inc.

RMD · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$36B
Gross margin (TTM)60.1%
Operating margin (TTM)33.2%
Net margin (TTM)27.4%
SectorHealthcare
IndustryMedical - Instruments & Supplies
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-04
Moat score
76/ 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 ResMed Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View RMD analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: ResMed Inc. leads (76 / 100 vs 71 / 100 for Merck & Co., Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Merck & Co., Inc. has 2 segments (89.5% in Pharmaceutical); ResMed Inc. has 2 segments (87.5% in Sleep and Breathing Health).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Merck & Co., Inc. has 5 moat types across 3 domains; ResMed Inc. has 7 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%

ResMed Inc.

Sleep and Breathing Health

Market

Sleep apnea and respiratory care devices and related consumables (PAP, masks, ventilation) plus connected monitoring services

Geography

Global

Customer

DME/HME providers, sleep clinics, hospitals, patients

Role

Medical device OEM + connected care software/data services

Revenue share

87.5%

Side-by-side metrics

Merck & Co., Inc.
ResMed Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
MRK - New York Stock Exchange
RMD - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$270B
$36B
Gross margin (TTM)
78.3%
60.1%
Operating margin (TTM)
36.4%
33.2%
Net margin (TTM)
29.6%
27.4%
Sector
Healthcare
Healthcare
Industry
Drug Manufacturers - General
Medical - Instruments & Supplies
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Pharmaceutical
Sleep and Breathing Health
Market structure
Competitive
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
58%-66% (estimated)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
71 / 100
76 / 100
Moat domains
Legal, Supply, Demand
Demand, Legal
Last update
2025-12-22
2026-01-04

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

IP Choke PointData Workflow Lockin

Merck & Co., Inc. strengths

Regulated Standards PipeCapex Knowhow ScaleScope Economies

ResMed Inc. strengths

Installed Base ConsumablesBrand TrustCompliance AdvantageLong Term ContractsTraining Org Change Costs

Segment mix

Merck & Co., Inc. segments

Full profile >

Pharmaceutical

Competitive

89.5%

Animal Health

Oligopoly

9.2%

ResMed Inc. segments

Full profile >

Sleep and Breathing Health

Oligopoly

87.5%

Residential Care Software

Competitive

12.5%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.

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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.