VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Stock Comparison

Merck & Co., Inc. vs Hermes International Societe en commandite par actions

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

Hermes International Societe en commandite par actions

RMS · Euronext Paris

Market cap (USD)$261.7B
SectorConsumer
CountryFR
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
79/ 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 Hermes International Societe en commandite par actions's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View RMS analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Hermes International Societe en commandite par actions leads (79 / 100 vs 71 / 100 for Merck & Co., Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Merck & Co., Inc. has 2 segments (89.5% in Pharmaceutical); Hermes International Societe en commandite par actions has 7 segments (42.6% in Leather Goods and Saddlery).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: Merck & Co., Inc. has 5 moat types across 3 domains; Hermes International Societe en commandite par actions has 5 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%

Hermes International Societe en commandite par actions

Leather Goods and Saddlery

Market

Ultra-premium leather goods and luxury handbags

Geography

Global

Customer

Affluent consumers

Role

Brand owner, artisan manufacturer, direct retailer

Revenue share

42.6%

Side-by-side metrics

Merck & Co., Inc.
Hermes International Societe en commandite par actions
Ticker / Exchange
MRK - New York Stock Exchange
RMS - Euronext Paris
Market cap (USD)
$250.9B
$261.7B
Sector
Healthcare
Consumer
HQ country
US
FR
Primary segment
Pharmaceutical
Leather Goods and Saddlery
Market structure
Competitive
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
71 / 100
79 / 100
Moat domains
Legal, Supply, Demand
Demand, Supply
Last update
2025-12-22
2025-12-30

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

Merck & Co., Inc. strengths

IP Choke PointRegulated Standards PipeCapex Knowhow ScaleScope EconomiesData Workflow Lockin

Hermes International Societe en commandite par actions strengths

Brand TrustCapacity MoatSupply Chain ControlDistribution ControlOperational Excellence

Segment mix

Merck & Co., Inc. segments

Full profile >

Pharmaceutical

Competitive

89.5%

Animal Health

Oligopoly

9.2%

Hermes International Societe en commandite par actions segments

Full profile >

Leather Goods and Saddlery

Oligopoly

42.6%

Ready-to-wear and Accessories

Competitive

29%

Silk and Textiles

Competitive

6.3%

Other Hermes sectors (Jewelry, Home, etc.)

Competitive

12.6%

Perfume and Beauty

Competitive

3.5%

Watches

Competitive

3.8%

Other products (Third-party production)

Competitive

2.2%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.

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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.