Does Aramark have an economic moat?

Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores Aramark (ARMK) 8.6 out of 100 — below the Shallow-moat bar, so no moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 0, returns on capital 8, balance-sheet safety 4, capital discipline 28.

Is ARMK stock trading below its intrinsic value?

Against a deliberately conservative owner-earnings model (9% discount rate, 4% assumed growth, capped at 4%), estimated intrinsic value is $19.21 per share versus a recent price of $56.74 — 195% above value. This is an educational estimate computed from primary SEC filings, not investment advice.

How has ARMK's Moat Score changed over time?

The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 8.6 out of 100 (no moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

The Moat Index

Aramark

ARMK · Consumer Discretionary · $14.9B mkt cap · FY2025 filings · No moat ·

Doesn't clear the bar

No moat

The four filters

Pricing power0

Median gross margin 10.4% over 7y, variable.

Returns on capital8

Median ROIC 6.7%, above the 9% hurdle in 0% of years.

Balance-sheet safety4

Net debt/EBITDA 3.8x, interest coverage 2x.

Capital discipline28

Owner earnings +1.4%/yr, share count growing (dilution).

Margin of safety

Above valueOn sale

195% above value

Owner earnings (normalized): $280.5M
Est. intrinsic value / share: $19.21
Recent price: $56.74
Discount to value: 195% above value

Conservative model: 9% discount rate, 4% assumed growth (capped at 4%), maintenance capex ≈ min(capex, D&A).

15 years of fundamentals

The business, in plain English

Across the filed record, revenue grew from $13.5B (FY2012) to $18.5B (FY2025) — about 2.5% a year compounded over 13 years.

It earned 7.6% on invested capital in FY2025, with a median of 6.4% across 14 filed years. The Returns on Capital filter above scores it 8/100.

The balance sheet carried $5.4B of total debt in FY2025 against $326.4M of owner earnings — roughly 16.6 years of owner earnings to retire it all. Balance-Sheet Safety scores it 4/100.

The share count rose 30.3% between FY2013 and FY2025 — existing owners have been diluted over the record. Capital Discipline scores it 28/100.

Put together: Capital Discipline is the strongest of the four filters (28/100) and Pricing Power the weakest (0/100), which is how ARMK lands at 9/100 — a None moat.

This breakdown is generated from the filed numbers and sub-scores above — no outside narrative, no estimates. Where a filing doesn’t disclose an input, the sentence that would need it is omitted instead of guessed.

RevenueSales, as filed$18.5B FY2025

Gross marginRevenue kept after cost of goods−7.9% FY2022

Return on invested capitalOperating profit on the capital employed7.6% FY2025

Owner earningsCash an owner could take out$326.4M FY2025

Gaps in a line mean that item isn’t in ARMK’s filings for that year — the series is never interpolated or estimated. The Table view lists every filed value, including operating and net margins, total debt, and share count.

Moat Score history

Moat Score over timeLast scored reading of each day, on the 0–100 scale8.6 / 100

Score history begins Jul 17, 2026 — the record builds from here and can’t be backfilled.

Tier changesSame-methodology crossings of the Wide / Narrow / Shallow bars

None yet — ARMK has read No moat for every logged capture since Jul 17, 2026.

Scores are logged append-only and never overwritten — this record can’t be backfilled, which is exactly why it’s worth keeping.

Consumer Discretionary context

#336 of 340 scored Consumer Discretionary companies, ranked by Moat Score.

Nearest peers by Moat Score

#334RIVN Rivian Automotive, Inc. / DE10.3 out of 100, No moatNo moat
#335DLPN DOLPHIN ENTERTAINMENT, INC.8.8 out of 100, No moatNo moat
#337UFI UNIFI, INC.7.6 out of 100, No moatNo moat
#338SIF SIFCO Industries, Inc.7.3 out of 100, No moatNo moat

Compare ARMK with its nearest peers →All Consumer Discretionary companies on the Index →

Common questions about ARMK

Does Aramark have an economic moat?: Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores Aramark (ARMK) 8.6 out of 100 — below the Shallow-moat bar, so no moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 0, returns on capital 8, balance-sheet safety 4, capital discipline 28.
Is ARMK stock trading below its intrinsic value?: Against a deliberately conservative owner-earnings model (9% discount rate, 4% assumed growth, capped at 4%), estimated intrinsic value is $19.21 per share versus a recent price of $56.74 — 195% above value. This is an educational estimate computed from primary SEC filings, not investment advice.
How has ARMK's Moat Score changed over time?: The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 8.6 out of 100 (no moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

Embed this score on your site

One iframe, no script. The badge shows ARMK’s live Moat Score, updates itself as new filings are scored, and links back here. How it works.

<iframe
  src="https://buylikebuffett.com/embed/ARMK"
  width="340" height="150" style="border:0"
  title="ARMK Moat Score — The Moat Index"
  loading="lazy"></iframe>

Scored from primary SEC filings via the public methodology. Educational only — not a recommendation to buy or sell ARMK. See the disclaimer.