VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Stock Comparison
Paychex, Inc. vs Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
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 analysisThermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
TMO · New York Stock Exchange
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View TMO analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: Paychex, Inc. leads (66 / 100 vs 64 / 100 for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.).
- Segment focus: Paychex, Inc. has 3 segments (73% in Management Solutions); Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has 4 segments (53.6% in Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services).
- Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: Paychex, Inc. has 7 moat types across 4 domains; Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has 8 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%
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services
Laboratory supplies distribution/market channel plus outsourced biopharma services (CDMO/CRO)
Global
Pharma & biotech; academic/government labs; industrial and clinical laboratories
Distributor/market channel and outsourced services provider
53.6%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
Paychex, Inc. strengths
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 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
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. segments
Full profile >Life Sciences Solutions
Oligopoly
Analytical Instruments
Oligopoly
Specialty Diagnostics
Oligopoly
Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services
Competitive
Want the full wide moat stocks list?
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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.