Marubeni: The Rival of the Same SizeNarrow moat

Sumitomo Corporation (8053) — moat facet

Sumitomo and Marubeni are almost the same size, and Sumitomo trades at a slightly lower multiple.

Marubeni is the trading house closest to Sumitomo in size: a market value of ¥8.09 trillion and trailing net income of ¥575.88 billion, on 14.19 times earnings1. Sumitomo is valued at about ¥8.51 trillion on ¥619.05 billion2.

Market value, September 2026 (¥ tn)8.51Sumitomo Corp.8.09Marubenistockanalysis, September 2026
Almost the same size.

The two compete directly in power, agriculture and infrastructure, and they are the natural comparison for investors choosing between the smaller houses.

Sumitomo earns slightly more and is valued at slightly less per yen of profit. The difference is small enough to reverse on a single quarter's results.

Both companies are more than 10% owned by Berkshire Hathaway3. For an investor choosing between them, the difference in multiple, 13.90 against 14.1945, is small; the difference in history is larger.

The measure is the two companies' relative return on equity. Sumitomo's 12.9% in the latest year6 is the figure it needs to keep ahead.

Moat trajectory: Holding steady

The two are close in size and valuation.

The number that tests this moat
Reported
Market value against Marubeni
about ¥8.51tn against ¥8.09tn

The closest rival; small differences reverse quickly.

Source: Marubeni market data (stockanalysis) ↗
References
  1. ReportedMarubeni is the trading house closest to Sumitomo in size: a market value of ¥8.09 trillion and trailing net income of ¥575.88 billion, on 14.19 times earnings.
    Marubeni Corporation (TYO: 8002) market data - market capitalisation 8.09T yen, trailing net income 575.88B yen, P/E 14.19, September 2026. — September 2026 · publ. 24 September 2026 · source ↗
  2. ReportedSumitomo is valued at about ¥8.51 trillion on ¥619.05 billion.
    Sumitomo Corporation (TYO: 8053) market data - share price ¥1,768.50, market capitalisation 8.51T yen, trailing net income 619.05B yen, P/E 13.90, forward P/E 12.62, dividend ¥40.00 (2.26%), September 2026. — September 2026 · publ. 24 September 2026 · source ↗
  3. ReportedBoth companies are more than 10% owned by Berkshire Hathaway.
    Hedge Fund Alpha - Berkshire Hathaway raised its Sumitomo stake from 9.30% to 10.05%, 119.8 million shares, and now owns more than 10% of all five trading houses. — May 2026 · publ. May 2026 · source ↗
  4. ReportedFor an investor choosing between them, the difference in multiple, 13.90 against 14.19, is small; the difference in history is larger.
    Sumitomo Corporation (TYO: 8053) market data - share price ¥1,768.50, market capitalisation 8.51T yen, trailing net income 619.05B yen, P/E 13.90, forward P/E 12.62, dividend ¥40.00 (2.26%), September 2026. — September 2026 · publ. 24 September 2026 · source ↗
  5. ReportedFor an investor choosing between them, the difference in multiple, 13.90 against 14.19, is small; the difference in history is larger.
    Marubeni Corporation (TYO: 8002) market data - market capitalisation 8.09T yen, trailing net income 575.88B yen, P/E 14.19, September 2026. — September 2026 · publ. 24 September 2026 · source ↗
  6. ReportedSumitomo's 12.9% in the latest year is the figure it needs to keep ahead.
    Sumitomo Corporation, Consolidated Financial Results for the year ended March 31, 2026 (IFRS) - results, segment profit, the financial position, dividends, the share split and the forecast for the year to March 2027. — FY to March 2026 · publ. May 2026 · source ↗
Sources
Generated September 24, 2026