EMD (Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund) Moat Score: 4/10 (As of Jun. 28, 2026)


EMD Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund Inc EMD
54 GF Score
Price $10.72
GF Value $13.93
Valuation Modestly Undervalued
! 4 Warning Signs
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What is Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund Moat Score?

Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund EMD +1.04% 54 Moat Score is 4 as of Jun. 28, 2026. GuruFocus rates EMD with a GF Score™ of 54/100 and a GF Value™ of $13.93 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 4 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,695 Asset Management companies, Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund ranks better than 95.52% on this metric.

Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund has the Moat Score of 4, which implies that the company might have Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat.

Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund has Narrow Moat: Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund Inc has a discernible but modest moat due to its specialized focus on emerging markets debt, providing some differentiation. However, it lacks strong brand strength, regulatory barriers, or significant customer switching costs.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund might have Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat.

Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund  (NYSE:EMD) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund Moat Score Related Terms

EMD vs NDMO, DSU, FAX: Moat Score Comparison

For the Asset Management subindustry, Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.

Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund Moat Score vs Asset Management Industry

For the Asset Management industry and Financial Services sector, Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund's Moat Score falls into.


EMD
54GF Score
Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund Inc EMD
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 4 mean?
Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund (EMD) has a Moat Score of 4 as of Jun. 28, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund ranks #76 out of 1695 companies in the Asset Management industry, placing it in the top 4.5%.
Is Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund's Moat Score too high?
Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund's current Moat Score is 4. Based on the distribution chart, Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund ranks #76 out of 1695 companies in the Asset Management industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund has a GF Score™ of 54/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund's Moat Score compare to NDMO and DSU?
According to the Asset Management industry distribution chart, Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund ranks #76 out of 1695 companies for Moat Score. This places Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund in the top 5% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for an Asset Management company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Asset Management industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund's current Moat Score is 4. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund (EMD) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $13.93, compared to a current price of $10.72 — trading 23% below its estimated fair value. The current Moat Score is 4. Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund's overall GF Score™ is 54/100 with 4 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund (EMD), the current Moat Score is 4 as of Jun. 28, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund (EMD) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund stock appears to be undervalued. The current stock price of $10.72 is trading 23% below its estimated GF Value™ of $13.93. GuruFocus considers Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund to be Modestly Undervalued.

Key valuation signals for EMD:

  • Moat Score: 4
  • GF Value™: $13.93 vs. price of $10.72 (23% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 54/100 with 4 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the EMD stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.

Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund Business Description

Address One Madison Avenue, 17th Floor, New York, NY, USA, 10010
Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund Inc is a non-diversified closed-end management and long term investment company. The primary investment objective of the company is to seek high current income, and the secondary objective is to seek capital appreciation.
54GF Score

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$10.72
Price
$13.93
GF Value