VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

Paychex, Inc. vs Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.

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

Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.

ZBH · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$18.4B
Gross margin (TTM)71.4%
Operating margin (TTM)16.6%
Net margin (TTM)10.1%
SectorHealthcare
IndustryMedical - Devices
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-23
Moat score
72/ 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 Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View ZBH analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. leads (72 / 100 vs 66 / 100 for Paychex, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Paychex, Inc. has 3 segments (73% in Management Solutions); Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. has 4 segments (41.3% in Knees).
  • Moat breadth: Paychex, Inc. has 7 moat types across 4 domains; Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. has 7 across 5.

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%

Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.

Knees

Market

Knee reconstruction implants (primary, partial, revision) plus associated instruments and orthopedic robotics/navigation

Geography

Global

Customer

Hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers

Role

OEM manufacturer

Revenue share

41.3%

Side-by-side metrics

Paychex, Inc.
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
PAYX - NASDAQ Global Select Market
ZBH - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$39.4B
$18.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
73.4%
71.4%
Operating margin (TTM)
37.1%
16.6%
Net margin (TTM)
26.5%
10.1%
Sector
Industrials
Healthcare
Industry
Staffing & Employment Services
Medical - Devices
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Management Solutions
Knees
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
30.1% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
2,265
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
66 / 100
72 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal, Financial
Demand, Supply, Legal, Financial, Network
Last update
2026-01-04
2025-12-23

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Data Workflow LockinService Field Network

Paychex, Inc. strengths

Suite BundlingCompliance AdvantageUnderwriting Risk PoolingSwitching Costs GeneralFloat Prepayment

Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. strengths

Design In QualificationRegulated Standards PipeBenchmark Pricing PowerScope EconomiesEcosystem Complements

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%

Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Knees

Oligopoly

41.3%

Hips

Oligopoly

26%

S.E.T. (Sports Medicine, Extremities, Trauma, CMFT)

Competitive

24.3%

Technology & Data, Bone Cement and Surgical

Oligopoly

8.3%

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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Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.

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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.