VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Stock Comparison
Paychex, Inc. vs Starbucks Corporation
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
Paychex, Inc.
PAYX · NASDAQ Global Select Market
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into Paychex, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View PAYX analysisStarbucks Corporation
SBUX · Nasdaq Global Select Market
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into Starbucks Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View SBUX analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: Starbucks Corporation leads (70 / 100 vs 66 / 100 for Paychex, Inc.).
- Segment focus: Paychex, Inc. has 3 segments (73% in Management Solutions); Starbucks Corporation has 3 segments (73.6% in North America).
- Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: Paychex, Inc. has 7 moat types across 4 domains; Starbucks Corporation has 7 across 3.
Primary market context
Paychex, Inc.
Management Solutions
Payroll processing and integrated HCM solutions for SMB and mid-market employers
United States (primarily)
Employers (SMB and mid-market)
HCM SaaS + outsourced payroll/HR service provider
73%
Starbucks Corporation
North America
Branded coffeehouse retail (company-operated + licensed)
U.S. and Canada
Consumers
Retailer / brand owner
73.6%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
No overlap yet.
Paychex, Inc. strengths
Starbucks Corporation strengths
Segment mix
Paychex, Inc. segments
Full profile >Management Solutions
Oligopoly
PEO and Insurance Solutions
Competitive
Client funds float (interest on funds held for clients)
Oligopoly
Starbucks Corporation segments
Full profile >North America
Competitive
International
Competitive
Channel Development
Oligopoly
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 listLooking for expansion-stage stocks?
Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.
View expansion-stage stocksCuration & 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.