Economic or market moats represent long-term business defensibility. Or how long a business can retain its competitive advantage in the marketplace over the years. Warren Buffet who popularized the term “moat” referred to it as a share of mind, opposite to market share, as such it is the characteristic that all valuable brands have.
Aspect | Explanation |
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Economic Moat | An Economic Moat is a term used in business and investing to describe a competitive advantage or set of advantages that makes it challenging for other businesses or competitors to erode a company’s market position and profitability. It’s like a protective barrier that helps maintain a company’s long-term success. |
Key Characteristics | – 1. Brand: A strong and recognized brand can create customer loyalty and trust, making it difficult for competitors to lure customers away. – 2. Cost Leadership: Achieving lower production or operational costs compared to competitors can provide a significant advantage. – 3. Network Effects: When a product or service becomes more valuable as more people use it, like social media platforms. – 4. Switching Costs: High costs or inconveniences associated with changing from one product or service to another. – 5. Intellectual Property: Patents, trademarks, or proprietary technology that protect a company’s innovations. |
Examples | – 1. Coca-Cola: The Coca-Cola brand is globally recognized and valued, giving the company pricing power and a loyal customer base. – 2. Amazon: Its vast distribution network and Prime membership create a competitive advantage in the e-commerce industry. – 3. Microsoft: The Windows operating system is a classic example of high switching costs, as many businesses rely on it. – 4. Apple: Apple’s ecosystem of devices and services creates network effects and brand loyalty. |
Importance in Investing | – Identifying companies with economic moats is a key strategy for investors. These companies often provide more predictable and sustainable returns over the long term. – Moats can also be a source of competitive advantage in various economic conditions, making a company less vulnerable to downturns. – They can indicate a company’s ability to maintain or increase its profitability over time. |
Maintaining and Expanding Moats | – Companies with moats must work to maintain and, if possible, expand their advantages. This can involve investing in R&D, marketing, and customer service to protect the brand and enhance customer loyalty. – Innovating to stay ahead of competitors or securing new patents can strengthen the moat. – Constantly adapting to changing market conditions is essential. |
Challenges | – Moats are not permanent; they can erode over time due to changing technologies, market dynamics, or competitive pressures. – Companies with moats are not immune to mismanagement or external risks. – Investors must regularly assess a company’s moat to ensure it remains intact. |
Conclusion | – Economic moats are a critical concept for investors and businesses. Identifying, building, and maintaining a moat can have a significant impact on a company’s long-term success and value. – Investors should carefully analyze a company’s competitive position and its ability to sustain its moat when making investment decisions. |
The father of economic moats
In a speech to MBA students, Warren Buffet highlighted what a moat is about.
Holding in his hands a can of soda, Warren Buffet said “you can understand this – referring to the popular cherry soda – anybody can understand this I mean this is a product that basically hasn’t been changed.”
Warren Buffet kept highlighting how the business staid the same over a long period of time, “…since 1886 or whatever it was and it’s a simple business, it’s not an easy business I don’t want a business that’s easy for competitors so I wanted a business with a moat around it.”
And he went on defining moats as castles administered by hardworking and capable dukes (its managers), “I want a very valuable castle in the middle and then I want a duke who’s in charge of that castle to be honest and hardworking and able.”
Then finally he gives some examples of moats in several industries, “…I want a big moat around the castle and that moat can be various things the moat in a business like our auto insurance business at Geico is low cost, I mean if people have to buy auto insurance so everybody’s going to have an auto insurance policy per per car basically for driver and and I can’t sell them 20 you know but but they have to buy one what are they going to buy on they’re going to buy on based on service and cost.”
Moats are not market shares
While many do associate moats with market shares, Warren Buffet highlighted “if you’ve got a wonderful castle (referring to moats) there are people out there going to try and attack it and take it away from you and I want a castle that I can understand but I want a castle with a motor on it.”
Yet moats have something more. Valuable brands do not only take market shares, they gain market shares as a result of something else, which Warren Buffet calls “share of mind.”
When explaining the Kodak’s case, Warren Buffet highlighted, “30 years ago Kodak’s moat was was just as white as coca-cola smoke…they had what I call share of mind. Forget about share market…they had something and everybody’s mind around the country around the world with a little yellow boxing ring that said Kodak is the best, that’s priceless.”
Moats as widening business fences
Warren Buffet kept highlighting, how Coca-Cola (one of his favorite brands and portfolio companies, had just that.
You can’t see the moat day by day but every time you know the infrastructure gets built in some country that isn’t yet profitable for Coke but will be 20 years from now. The moat is widening a little bit that things are all the time changing that moat in one direction other ten years from now you can see the difference. our managers are the businesses we run I’ve got one message to them you know which is the widening moat.
Below an example of what Warren Buffet has in mind. As explained, in the Coca-Cola system, as the company enters new markets, as a go-to market strategy, it will control most of the operations.
Yet, once operations have been established, Coca-Cola divests, and it follows a franchising model, where it holds control over its franchisees as the company is the sole distributor of the product, and by keeping some equity invested.
I redefined this model, franchained.
This is an example, of how Coca-Cola combines branding, distribution, operational and financial efficacy, as it enters new markets, while retaining its brand’s “share of mind” as it keeps scaling its operations.
Market moats are about business defensibility
David George and Alex Immerman, partners at venture capital firm, a16z, when talking about gross margin, they pointe out how those alone are misleading. And it all goes back to what really drives business value.
As they further point out “business quality is about defensibility. Defensibility comes from moats.”
In short, if a company is focusing on higher gross margins at the expense of business defensibility that might over time translate in loss of competitiveness of the business.
But what makes up a moat? There are several ways to build moats and in many cases, depending on the market contexts a moat will come from the mixture of several elements.
Market moats is about the brand and the share of mind
One of the most powerful business defences is the brand, or the direct access to your customer base. For instance, if you take Facebook, it’s still among the most valuable websites on earth, because people recognize its brand.
There is no intermediary, people access their Facebook app, or go directly on the Facebook login page. This is critical, as over time it defends against disintermediation.
If, let’s say, Facebook depended solely on traffic coming from Google, the day Google had launched its social network, it would have killed Facebook.
Yet, as the product and brand was recognized and people got straight to the source, it didn’t need any intermediary.
Customer obsession
If you take the case of Amazon, over the years it has had a relentless focus on low price, convenience, variety, and great delivery, in a mixture, they defined “customer obsession.”
This built-in low price, convenience and variety took years to build, and in Amazon’s case that was a combination of operational model: inventory facilities and systems; financial model: Amazon gave up profitability for free cash flows), customer modeling (through its e-commerce, Amazon could know exactly what customers wanted); and business experimentation: Amazon launched many failed products that it thought customers would be excited about.
Among those failed launches though, it also came up with things like Amazon Prime and Amazon AWS, which are among the most successful parts of the business.
Low cost
For players in industries where the products offered are mostly undifferentiated, moats are created by economies of scale combined with low costs.
As Warren Buffet explains in his speech about moats, an insurance business like Geico, a lot of defensibility comes with offering lower prices.
Differentiated technology
In a software world where hundreds of new products are launched to market everyday, building up differentiation (in terms of features, technology, and value proposition) is a key element.
Distribution
While strong products and brands can draw directly from their user or customer base. Having a strong distribution network is also a key element.
As highlighted in the Google TAC and if we look at the costs associated to the money invested into distribution of some of the most valuable brands, this goes in the multi-billion dollar mark.
Economies of scale
Economies of scale enable companies to improve efficiency and profitability as the company scales (beware though of diseconomies of scale).
This is one of the elements of creating market moats.
Growth capital
In periods of economic expansion, when capital becomes available for companies to expand in riskier markets, those companies give up efficiency to gain scale.
This sort of blitzscaling mode can help companies gain market shares quickly, in markets that are new, but are becoming hot from an investing standpoint.
Those players able to open the market, and retain it, might become long-term dominators. This risky game, however, is good as long as the economy keeps expanding, and the growth capital is available for the company burning cash at fast speed.
If, by luck, good timing, or continued growth, the company is able to sustain this mode of aggressive growth, a competitive advantage can be created.
Examples of this are companies that are opening up new markets, that are still yet to be defined (take the Uber case).
Network effects
This is true for platform business models. Where in economies of scale the company gains in efficiency and profitability as it grows (it lowers its per cost unit). In network effects, the platform becomes more valuable as its per user value grows as more users join (beware of negative or reverse network effects).
Value proposition and perception
Understand what’s the killer use case that makes your product valuable in the hands of several types of customers is another key ingredient.
While this might go beyond the engineering world, and as such it might seem more foggy, it is though one of those elements that make a long-term difference.
In short, are you willing to test, and experiment with your product to find value propositions that fit the market? If so, you product will evolve contextually, to create moats.
Business model innovation
Those factors combined are all part of your business model recipe, and it often becomes evident only in hindsight. And it takes years to build. What’s left is a lot of business experimentation, a strong long-term vision.
Case Studies
- Brand Recognition:
- Customer Obsession:
- Amazon: Amazon’s relentless focus on customer experience, convenience, and fast delivery has created a moat around its e-commerce business. Its customer-centric approach has built customer loyalty and trust.
- Low Cost:
- Walmart: Walmart’s low-cost strategy allows it to offer competitive prices to consumers. Its efficient supply chain management and economies of scale contribute to its moat in the retail industry.
- Differentiated Technology:
- Apple: Apple’s innovation in hardware and software design, along with its ecosystem of products and services, sets it apart in the technology industry. Its brand and user experience create a strong moat.
- Distribution:
- FedEx: FedEx’s extensive global network and efficient logistics serve as a significant moat in the package delivery and courier services sector. Its ability to reach customers quickly and reliably is a competitive advantage.
- Economies of Scale:
- Microsoft: Microsoft’s dominance in the software industry is partly due to economies of scale. Its widely used operating systems and office productivity software benefit from network effects and cost efficiencies.
- Growth Capital:
- Network Effects:
- Facebook: Facebook’s social media platform benefits from network effects, where more users attract more users. Its large and engaged user base creates a moat that makes it challenging for competitors to enter the market.
- Value Proposition and Perception:
- Nike: Nike’s strong brand perception and compelling value proposition, focused on performance and style, make it a leader in the athletic footwear and apparel industry.
- Business Model Innovation:
- Netflix: Netflix disrupted the traditional entertainment industry by innovating its business model, offering streaming services and original content. Its subscriber base and content library create a moat against competitors.
- Regulatory Advantage:
- Alphabet (Google): Google’s dominant position in online search is reinforced by network effects and its ability to collect vast amounts of data. It faces regulatory challenges due to its size and market power, creating a regulatory moat.
- Intellectual Property:
- Disney: Disney’s extensive portfolio of intellectual property, including iconic characters and franchises like Mickey Mouse and Star Wars, provides a moat in the entertainment industry.
Key highlights related to economic or market moats:
- Definition of Market Moats: Market moats represent a business’s long-term defensibility and its ability to maintain a competitive advantage over time. They are the characteristics or factors that protect a company from competitors and allow it to sustain profitability.
- Warren Buffett’s Concept: Warren Buffett, the renowned investor, popularized the term “moat” in the context of investing. He described a moat as a protective barrier that surrounds a business, making it difficult for competitors to challenge its position in the market.
- Share of Mind: Buffett emphasized that a moat is about having a “share of mind” in customers’ perception. It goes beyond market share and involves building a strong brand and customer loyalty. Brands with a share of mind are recognized and trusted by consumers.
- Examples of Market Moats: Buffett provided examples of moats in various industries. For instance, he mentioned Geico’s low-cost advantage as a moat in the insurance industry. Coca-Cola’s global brand recognition and direct access to consumers also serve as a moat.
- Components of Market Moats:
- Brand and Share of Mind: Building a recognizable and trusted brand that consumers associate with quality and value.
- Customer Obsession: Focusing on meeting customer needs and preferences, often driven by customer feedback and innovation.
- Low Cost: Achieving cost efficiency and offering competitive prices.
- Differentiated Technology: Developing unique technology or features that set the company apart.
- Distribution: Establishing effective distribution channels to reach customers directly.
- Economies of Scale: Achieving operational efficiency and cost savings as the company scales.
- Growth Capital: Using available capital to rapidly expand into new markets, even at the expense of short-term profitability.
- Network Effects: Leveraging network effects, where the value of the platform or service increases as more users join.
- Value Proposition and Perception: Creating a compelling value proposition and generating demand through brand perception and identification.
- Business Model Innovation: Developing a sustainable and adaptable business model that captures long-term value.
- Defensibility: Market moats are all about creating defensibility for a business. They protect a company from competitive threats and allow it to maintain its position in the market.
- Long-Term Vision: Building market moats often takes time and continuous effort. It involves strategic planning, experimentation, and a long-term vision for the company’s growth and sustainability.
- Importance in Investing: Understanding market moats is crucial for investors. Identifying businesses with strong moats can lead to wise investment decisions, as these companies are more likely to maintain their profitability and competitive edge.
Case Studies
Company | Economic Moat Type | Case Study Description |
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Apple Inc. | Brand and Ecosystem | Apple’s strong brand and ecosystem, including the iPhone, App Store, and Mac, create customer loyalty and high switching costs. |
Coca-Cola Company | Brand and Distribution | Coca-Cola’s iconic brand and extensive global distribution network provide a competitive advantage in the beverage industry. |
Amazon.com | Network Effects | Amazon’s vast customer base, third-party seller ecosystem, and Prime membership program create network effects that attract more customers and sellers. |
Alphabet (Google) | Network Effects | Google’s dominant search engine benefits from network effects, as more users contribute to improved search results and ad revenue. |
Network Effects | Facebook’s social network, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, relies on network effects to retain users and advertisers. | |
Disney | Intellectual Property | Disney’s extensive portfolio of intellectual property, including characters, franchises, and theme parks, creates a moat in the entertainment industry. |
Microsoft | Software Ecosystem | Microsoft’s Windows and Office software ecosystems have long-standing customer relationships and integrations in the enterprise space. |
Visa Inc. | Network Effects | Visa’s vast payment network benefits from network effects, as more users and merchants join the network, increasing its value. |
Johnson & Johnson | Research and Development | Johnson & Johnson’s investment in pharmaceutical and healthcare research results in a strong pipeline of patented products. |
Mastercard | Network Effects | Mastercard’s payment network leverages network effects, making it attractive to financial institutions, merchants, and consumers. |
Berkshire Hathaway | Diversified Holdings | Berkshire Hathaway’s diverse portfolio of wholly-owned businesses provides a stable and profitable base for its operations. |
Nike Inc. | Brand and Innovation | Nike’s strong brand and continuous product innovation maintain its competitive edge in the athletic footwear and apparel industry. |
Pfizer | Intellectual Property | Pfizer’s investment in drug development and a portfolio of patented pharmaceuticals contribute to its moat in the healthcare sector. |
Intel Corporation | Technology Leadership | Intel’s leadership in semiconductor technology and manufacturing capabilities gives it an edge in the chip industry. |
Procter & Gamble | Brand and Consumer Goods | Procter & Gamble’s portfolio of well-known consumer brands and product diversification create a moat in the consumer goods sector. |
Johnson Controls | Economies of Scale | Johnson Controls’ scale in building technology and HVAC systems results in cost advantages and a competitive moat. |
Visa Inc. | Network Effects | Visa’s vast payment network benefits from network effects, making it attractive to financial institutions, merchants, and consumers. |
Adobe Systems | Software Dominance | Adobe’s software dominance in creative and document management tools results in a moat in its respective markets. |
Oracle Corporation | Database Technology | Oracle’s database technology and enterprise software solutions establish a moat in the database and cloud computing industry. |
McDonald’s | Real Estate Holdings | McDonald’s substantial real estate holdings and global restaurant network create an economic moat in the fast-food industry. |
These case studies highlight how vario
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