Kao (KAOCF) Moat Score: 7/10 (As of Jun. 27, 2026)


KAOCF Kao Corp KAOCF
73 GF Score
Price $20.91
GF Value $43.15
Valuation Significantly Undervalued
! 4 Warning Signs
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What is Kao Moat Score?

Kao KAOCF 73 Moat Score is 7 as of Jun. 27, 2026. GuruFocus rates KAOCF with a GF Score™ of 73/100 and a GF Value™ of $43.15 (Significantly Undervalued). The stock has 4 warning signs investors should review. Among 2,058 Consumer Packaged Goods companies, Kao ranks better than 99.37% on this metric.

Kao has the Moat Score of 7, which implies that the company might have Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages.

Kao has Wide Moat: Kao Corp possesses strong brand strength, significant customer loyalty, and durable cost advantages. The company benefits from economies of scale, a superior distribution network, and consistent innovation, establishing a robust market position.

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 Kao might have Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages.

Kao  (OTCPK:KAOCF) 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

Kao Moat Score Related Terms

KAOCF vs PG, CL, KVUE: Moat Score Comparison

For the Household & Personal Products subindustry, Kao'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.

Kao Moat Score vs Consumer Packaged Goods Industry

For the Consumer Packaged Goods industry and Consumer Defensive sector, Kao's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Kao's Moat Score falls into.


KAOCF
73GF Score
Kao Corp KAOCF
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 7 mean?
Kao (KAOCF) has a Moat Score of 7 as of Jun. 27, 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, Kao ranks #13 out of 2058 companies in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, placing it in the top 0.59999999999999%.
Is Kao's Moat Score too high?
Kao's current Moat Score is 7. Based on the distribution chart, Kao ranks #13 out of 2058 companies in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Kao has a GF Score™ of 73/100 and is considered Significantly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Kao's Moat Score compare to PG and CL?
According to the Consumer Packaged Goods industry distribution chart, Kao ranks #13 out of 2058 companies for Moat Score. This places Kao in the top 1% 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 a Consumer Packaged Goods company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Consumer Packaged Goods 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. Kao's current Moat Score is 7. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Kao stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Kao (KAOCF) is currently considered Significantly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $43.15, compared to a current price of $20.91 — trading 51.5% below its estimated fair value. The current Moat Score is 7. Kao's overall GF Score™ is 73/100 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 Kao (KAOCF), the current Moat Score is 7 as of Jun. 27, 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 Kao (KAOCF) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Kao stock appears to be undervalued. The current stock price of $20.91 is trading 51.5% below its estimated GF Value™ of $43.15. GuruFocus considers Kao to be Significantly Undervalued.

Key valuation signals for KAOCF:

  • Moat Score: 7
  • GF Value™: $43.15 vs. price of $20.91 (51.5% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 73/100 with 4 warning signs

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

Kao Business Description

Address 14-10, Nihonbashi Kayabacho 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, JPN, 103-8210
Kao is the largest household and personal care product manufacturer in Japan, with a footprint across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Japan remains its largest market, contributing about 50% of sales and operating profits with several leading brands, including Attack and Bioré. Initially a soap producer established in the 1890s, Kao has expanded into cosmetics, disposable hygiene products, and chemicals, in addition to its homecare and toiletry products. Asia, the largest overseas market, contributes around 15% of group sales. Kao has also acquired several Western skin- and haircare brands, including Jergens, John Frieda, Curél, Molton Brown, and the latest, Oribe.
73GF Score

Get the complete analysis for KAOCF

Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

$20.91
Price
$43.15
GF Value