MOAT Stock: VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF Profile & Analysis (2026)
A high-conviction strategy investing in U.S. companies with sustainable competitive advantages trading at attractive valuations — Updated May 2026 with current AUM, expense ratio, holdings, and performance data.
MOAT stock represents the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, a fund designed to provide exposure to companies that Morningstar’s equity research team believes possess “Wide Moats”—or sustainable competitive advantages. By focusing on firms that can fend off competition for 20 years or more, the fund targets long-term outperformance. Currently, the portfolio includes major players found in our complete list of semiconductor companies, such as Applied Materials, alongside industrial stalwarts.
Unlike broad market indices that weight by market capitalization, MOAT follows a valuation-sensitive methodology. It selects companies from the Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index that are trading at the most attractive prices relative to their fair value. This approach often leads to significant weightings in defensive sectors and high-quality names also found on the complete list of food and beverage companies, ensuring a blend of stability and growth potential for long-term holders.
Key Takeaways — MOAT Stock
The fund only invests in companies with high barriers to entry, such as strong brand power, high switching costs, or proprietary technology.
Quality isn’t enough; the index specifically selects “Wide Moat” stocks that are trading at the greatest discount to their estimated fair value.
The fund utilizes a sub-portfolio structure that rebalances semi-annually on a staggered schedule to reduce turnover costs and market impact.
With usually fewer than 60 holdings, MOAT offers a more concentrated, high-conviction alternative to traditional large-cap blend ETFs.
MOAT — Live Price Chart
Real-time chart from TradingView.
MOAT ETF Vitals & Key Statistics
Core data as of May 2026.
| Data Point | Value | Data Point | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Name | VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF | Ticker | MOAT |
| Issuer | VanEck | Asset Class | Equities / Large Blend |
| Index Tracked | Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index | Structure | Open-Ended Investment Company |
| Expense Ratio | 0.46% | AUM | $11.72B |
| Inception Date | April 24, 2012 | Exchange | AMEX |
| No. of Holdings | 54-58 | Dividend Yield | 1.23% |
| 52-Week High | $108.10 | 52-Week Low | $88.53 |
| Avg Daily Volume | 1.179 million | YTD Return | 0.04% |
| 1-Year Return | 9% | 5-Year Return | 13.8% |
| Category | Large Cap Blend | Dividend Frequency | Annually |
MOAT Top 10 Holdings (May 2026)
Largest positions by weight. Click columns to sort.
| Rank | Ticker | Company Name | Sector | Weight % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AMAT | Applied Materials Inc | Technology | 3.58% |
| 2 | TMO | Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc | Healthcare | 3.13% |
| 3 | MRK | Merck & Co., Inc. | Healthcare | 3.02% |
| 4 | HII | Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. | Industrials | 2.98% |
| 5 | A | Agilent Technologies, Inc. | Healthcare | 2.95% |
| 6 | AMGN | Amgen Inc | Healthcare | 2.87% |
| 7 | EL | The Estée Lauder Companies Inc | Consumer Staples | 2.84% |
| 8 | WST | West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. | Healthcare | 2.72% |
| 9 | DHR | Danaher Corporation | Healthcare | 2.69% |
| 10 | UPS | United Parcel Service, Inc. | Industrials | 2.48% |
MOAT — Pros & Cons
✓ Quality & Value Blend
Combines the “Quality” factor (economic moats) with the “Value” factor (buying at a discount), which has historically led to strong risk-adjusted returns.
✗ Higher Expense Ratio
At 0.46%, it is significantly more expensive than broad market index funds from Vanguard or iShares that offer large-cap exposure.
✓ Disciplined Research
Leverages the deep fundamental analysis of Morningstar’s research team rather than just quantitative data or market-cap trends.
✗ Tracking Error
Because it is concentrated and equal-weighted, it can diverge significantly from the S&P 500, leading to periods of underperformance.
✓ Sustainable Competitive Advantage
Includes companies with fortress-like business models, such as those found on the small cap aerospace and defense stocks list (e.g. HII), ensuring long-term resilience.
✗ Sector Concentration
The methodology can lead to heavy overweighting in specific sectors like Healthcare or Technology if those sectors are deemed “undervalued.”
Who Should Consider MOAT?
Long-term investors who believe in the “moat” philosophy and want a portfolio of high-quality companies bought at a discount.
Ultra-low-cost “Bogleheads” or investors looking for high-growth, high-momentum stocks regardless of their current valuation.
The broader market is overextended and you want to tilt your portfolio toward companies with strong balance sheets and defensive moats.
Tax-advantaged accounts like IRAs or 401(k)s, though the fund’s relatively low turnover makes it suitable for taxable accounts too.
MOAT vs Similar ETFs
Key metrics comparison.
| ETF | Full Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Holdings | Div Yield | YTD | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOAT ★ | VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF | 0.46% | $11.72B | 54-58 | 1.23% | 0.04% | Quality/Value Strategy |
| VTV | Vanguard Value ETF | 0.04% | $112B | 340+ | 2.45% | 0.12% | Low-Cost Value |
| VONV | Vanguard Russell 1000 Value ETF | 0.08% | $18B | 850+ | 2.10% | 0.09% | Broad Value Exposure |
| IVE | iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF | 0.19% | $25B | 840+ | 2.05% | 0.08% | Standard Value Index |
MOAT Technical Analysis
Real-time buy/sell signals.
MOAT — Risks & Considerations
Valuation Subjectivity
The index relies on Morningstar’s “Fair Value” estimates, which are subjective projections. If their analysts’ models are incorrect, the fund could buy overvalued stocks.
Economic Moat Erosion
Technological disruption can destroy a “wide moat” quickly. A company deemed to have a 20-year advantage today might lose it tomorrow to a new competitor.
Underperformance in Momentum Rallies
MOAT tends to lag during “Growth” cycles where the market is driven by expensive, non-moat stocks or speculative tech companies.
Reconstitution Risk
The semi-annual rebalancing can lead to selling winners too early or holding losers too long if they still fit the mathematical valuation criteria.