10 Cheap Wide-Moat US Stocks for 2025

Undervalued high-quality names from the Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index are attractive stocks to buy for long-term investors.

Susan Dziubinski 2 April, 2025 | 9:20AM
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The Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index tracks companies that earn Morningstar Economic Moat Ratings of wide and whose stocks are trading at the lowest current market prices relative to our fair value estimates.

Wide-moat companies carry sound balance sheets and significant competitive advantages—two desirable qualities in the face of today’s economic uncertainty.

The constituents of the Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index are a fertile hunting ground for long-term investors looking for high-quality stocks to buy that are trading at cheap prices.

10 Cheap Wide-Moat US Stocks for 2025

These were 10 of the most undervalued wide-moat stocks in the Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index as of March 24, 2025.

  1. Estee Lauder EL
  2. Nike NKE
  3. Pfizer PFE
  4. Campbell Company CPB
  5. International Flavors & Fragrances IFF
  6. Brown-Forman BF.B
  7. Constellation Brands STZ
  8. Huntington Ingalls Industries HII
  9. Adobe ADBE
  10. NXP Semiconductors NXPI

The most undervalued wide-moat stock on the list, Estee Lauder, was trading 44% below our fair value estimate as of March 24, while the last company on the list, NXP Semiconductors, was trading 30% below our fair value estimate. We think all 10 of these names are high-quality stock ideas for long-term investors to consider.

To keep the index focused on the least-expensive high-quality stocks, Morningstar reconstitutes it regularly. The index consists of two subportfolios containing 40 stocks each, many of which are overlapping positions. The subportfolios are reconstituted semiannually in alternating quarters on a “staggered” schedule.

Morningstar reevaluates the index’s holdings and adds and removes stocks based on a preset methodology. Because stocks are equally weighted within each subportfolio, the reconstitution process also involves rightsizing positions.

After the most recent reconstitution, half the portfolio added nine stocks and eliminated nine stocks.

9 Undervalued Stocks Added to the Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index

These cheap stocks were added to the reconstituted subportfolio of the Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index on March 21.

Six of the cheap wide-moat stocks added to the index hail from the technology sector, which looks undervalued today after falling 7% so far this year.

9 Stocks Removed From the Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index

These stocks were removed from the reconstituted subportfolio of the Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index on March 21.

Bio-Rad Laboratories BIO was booted from the reconstituted portfolio after its market capitalization fell below the index’s requirements.

That being said, the stocks that were removed shouldn’t always be considered stocks to sell, especially when the removed stocks are still trading in what we’d consider a buying range. They’re just not as undervalued as the stocks added to the index at the time of the reconstitution.

What Are Wide-Moat Stocks?

Morningstar thinks that companies with wide economic moats have significant advantages that allow them to successfully fend off competitors for decades. Companies can carve out their economic moats in a variety of different ways: by having high switching costs, through strong brand identities, or by possessing economies of scale, to name just a few.

Over time, we’ve found that the strategy of investing in wide-moat stocks trading at a discount to their fair values has been an effective approach to stock investing.


The author or authors do not own shares in any securities mentioned in this article. Find out about Morningstar's editorial policies.

The information contained within is for educational and informational purposes ONLY. It is not intended nor should it be considered an invitation or inducement to buy or sell a security or securities noted within nor should it be viewed as a communication intended to persuade or incite you to buy or sell security or securities noted within. Any commentary provided is the opinion of the author and should not be considered a personalised recommendation. The information contained within should not be a person's sole basis for making an investment decision. Please contact your financial professional before making an investment decision.

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Susan Dziubinski  Susan Dziubinski is senior product manager with Morningstar.com.

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