VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Stock Comparison

MSCI Inc. vs Philip Morris International Inc.

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

MSCI Inc.

MSCI · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$43.7B
SectorFinancials
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-28
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 MSCI Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View MSCI analysis

Philip Morris International Inc.

PM · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)
SectorConsumer
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
84/ 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 Philip Morris International Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View PM analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Philip Morris International Inc. leads (84 / 100 vs 76 / 100 for MSCI Inc.).
  • Segment focus: MSCI Inc. has 4 segments (55.9% in Index); Philip Morris International Inc. has 3 segments (61.3% in Combustible Tobacco).
  • Moat breadth: MSCI Inc. has 4 moat types across 3 domains; Philip Morris International Inc. has 6 across 3.

Primary market context

MSCI Inc.

Index

Market

Investment indexes and index licensing

Geography

Global

Customer

Institutional investors and asset managers

Role

Index provider / benchmark administrator

Revenue share

55.9%

Philip Morris International Inc.

Combustible Tobacco

Market

International combustible tobacco (primarily cigarettes)

Geography

Global (primarily ex-U.S.)

Customer

Adult smokers; distributors/wholesalers and retail channels

Role

Branded manufacturer and distributor

Revenue share

61.3%

Side-by-side metrics

MSCI Inc.
Philip Morris International Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
MSCI - New York Stock Exchange
PM - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$43.7B
n/a
Sector
Financials
Consumer
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Index
Combustible Tobacco
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
23%-27% (implied)
25.3% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Strong
Moat score
76 / 100
84 / 100
Moat domains
Network, Demand, Legal
Demand, Supply, Legal
Last update
2025-12-28
2025-12-31

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Compliance Advantage

MSCI Inc. strengths

De Facto StandardSwitching Costs GeneralData Workflow Lockin

Philip Morris International Inc. strengths

Brand TrustDistribution ControlInstalled Base ConsumablesIP Choke PointRegulated Standards Pipe

Segment mix

MSCI Inc. segments

Full profile >

Index

Oligopoly

55.9%

Analytics

Oligopoly

23.6%

Sustainability and Climate

Competitive

11.4%

Private Assets

Competitive

9%

Philip Morris International Inc. segments

Full profile >

Combustible Tobacco

Oligopoly

61.3%

Smoke-Free Products

Oligopoly

37.8%

Wellness & Healthcare

Competitive

0.9%

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.