VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

Paychex, Inc. vs Universal Music Group N.V.

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

Paychex, Inc.

PAYX · NASDAQ Global Select Market

Market cap (USD)$39.4B
Gross margin (TTM)73.4%
Operating margin (TTM)37.1%
Net margin (TTM)26.5%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryStaffing & Employment Services
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-04
Moat score
66/ 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 Paychex, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View PAYX analysis

Universal Music Group N.V.

UMG · Euronext Amsterdam

Market cap (USD)$40.5B
Gross margin (TTM)40.4%
Operating margin (TTM)10.4%
Net margin (TTM)17.5%
SectorCommunication Services
IndustryEntertainment
CountryNL
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
77/ 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 Universal Music Group N.V.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View UMG analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Universal Music Group N.V. leads (77 / 100 vs 66 / 100 for Paychex, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Paychex, Inc. has 3 segments (73% in Management Solutions); Universal Music Group N.V. has 3 segments (75.2% in Recorded Music).
  • Moat breadth: Paychex, Inc. has 7 moat types across 4 domains; Universal Music Group N.V. has 5 across 3.

Primary market context

Paychex, Inc.

Management Solutions

Market

Payroll processing and integrated HCM solutions for SMB and mid-market employers

Geography

United States (primarily)

Customer

Employers (SMB and mid-market)

Role

HCM SaaS + outsourced payroll/HR service provider

Revenue share

73%

Universal Music Group N.V.

Recorded Music

Market

Recorded music rights (labels) and monetization (streaming, physical, licensing/sync)

Geography

Global

Customer

Digital service providers (audio/video/social), physical retailers, and licensing counterparties

Role

Label / master rights holder; artist development, marketing and distribution

Revenue share

75.2%

Side-by-side metrics

Paychex, Inc.
Universal Music Group N.V.
Ticker / Exchange
PAYX - NASDAQ Global Select Market
UMG - Euronext Amsterdam
Market cap (USD)
$39.4B
$40.5B
Gross margin (TTM)
73.4%
40.4%
Operating margin (TTM)
37.1%
10.4%
Net margin (TTM)
26.5%
17.5%
Sector
Industrials
Communication Services
Industry
Staffing & Employment Services
Entertainment
HQ country
US
NL
Primary segment
Management Solutions
Recorded Music
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
31%-33% (estimated)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
66 / 100
77 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal, Financial
Legal, Supply, Demand
Last update
2026-01-04
2025-12-28

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Service Field Network

Paychex, Inc. strengths

Data Workflow LockinSuite BundlingCompliance AdvantageUnderwriting Risk PoolingSwitching Costs GeneralFloat Prepayment

Universal Music Group N.V. strengths

Content Rights CurrencyScale Economies Unit CostBrand TrustLong Term Contracts

Segment mix

Paychex, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Management Solutions

Oligopoly

73%

PEO and Insurance Solutions

Competitive

24.1%

Client funds float (interest on funds held for clients)

Oligopoly

2.9%

Universal Music Group N.V. segments

Full profile >

Recorded Music

Oligopoly

75.2%

Music Publishing

Oligopoly

17.9%

Merchandising and Other

Competitive

7.1%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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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.