Bought, Not Built: Linear and MaximNarrow moat
Analog Devices (ADI) — moat facet
ADI bought Linear and Maxim for about $44 billion; the business earns about 35% on its operating capital and under 6% on all the capital its owners paid.
Analog Devices became the company it is by buying two rivals, and the price still shapes every return it reports. Linear Technology cost about $15.8 billion in 20171; Maxim Integrated about $28.0 billion of ADI stock in 20212. Before them ADI had goodwill of $1,636.5 million at the end of fiscal 20153; at 1 August 2026 it had $27,988.7 million4.
What the deals bought is visible in the revenue. ADI had $3,421.4 million of revenue in fiscal 20165 and $11,019.7 million in fiscal 20256. Automotive went from $758.1 million in fiscal 20177 to $3,277.9 million in 20258. Linear's parts and Maxim's, which ADI said created "an expanded suite of top-performing mixed-signal and power management technology offerings"9, now sit beside its original converters and amplifiers in the same catalogue.
What the deals cost is visible in the return on capital. On the repo method it was 13.4% in fiscal 2015 and 16.3% in 2016, then 8.1% in 2017, 5.1% in 2021 and 5.7% in 202510. Every year since the Linear deal has been below a 9% hurdle. Remove the goodwill and intangibles and the business earns about 34.9%11. The operating franchise is excellent; the owners paid a great deal for its size.
Four pages take this apart. Linear: $15.8 Billion in 2017 and Maxim: $28 Billion in Stock are the two deals. Seventy-Three Percent of the Balance Sheet is the result. The Amortisation Cliff After 2029 is when the accounting cost falls away.
The balance sheet records what was bought in revealing terms. Of $18,027.8 million of gross acquired intangibles at the end of fiscal 2025, $10,335.9 million were customer relationships and $7,617.9 million technology12. After amortisation, customer relationships still carried $5,024.7 million13. ADI paid, in other words, largely for the design-in loyalty that makes the catalogue valuable, and it is writing that loyalty off over a few years even though the parts keep selling for many more. Hittite, bought in fiscal 201414, was the smaller precedent.
The facet is narrow, not wide, because buying does not deepen a moat by itself; it widens the catalogue at a price. It would move toward wide if reported return on invested capital, goodwill included, passed 9% and stayed there, which would mean the purchase price had finally been earned.
ROIC 5.7% in FY2025; below 9% every year since FY2017.
What the operating business earns; a fall below 25% would mean the franchise itself, not just the deals, was weakening.
- ReportedLinear Technology cost about $15.8 billion in 2017; Maxim Integrated about $28.0 billion of ADI stock in 2021.Analog Devices Form 10-K for fiscal 2019 (year ended 2 November 2019) - the Linear acquisition, five-year selected data for 2015-2019, Arrow, Macnica and Apple concentration, named competitors and fabs. — FY2019 · publ. November 2019 · source ↗
- ReportedLinear Technology cost about $15.8 billion in 2017; Maxim Integrated about $28.0 billion of ADI stock in 2021.Analog Devices Form 10-K for fiscal 2021 (year ended 30 October 2021) - the Maxim acquisition, named competitors, wafer sourcing and end-market revenue for 2019-2021. — FY2021 · publ. December 2021 · source ↗
- ReportedBefore them ADI had goodwill of $1,636.5 million at the end of fiscal 2015; at 1 August 2026 it had $27,988.7 million.SEC EDGAR XBRL, Analog Devices Goodwill at fiscal year end: 1,636.5 (FY2015), 1,679.1 (FY2016), 12,217.5 (FY2017), 12,252.6, 12,256.9, 12,278.4 (FY2020), 26,918.5 (FY2021), 26,913.1 (FY2022), 26,909.8, 26,909.8 (FY2024), 26,945.2 (FY2025), $ millions. — FY2015-FY2025 · publ. 2025 · source ↗
- ReportedBefore them ADI had goodwill of $1,636.5 million at the end of fiscal 2015; at 1 August 2026 it had $27,988.7 million.Analog Devices third-quarter fiscal 2026 results release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - revenue by end market, margins, EPS, cash flow, balance sheet and fourth-quarter guidance - cash flow, capital returns and balance sheet. — Q3 FY2026 · publ. 19 August 2026 · source ↗
- ReportedADI had $3,421.4 million of revenue in fiscal 2016 and $11,019.7 million in fiscal 2025.Analog Devices Form 10-K for fiscal 2019 (year ended 2 November 2019) - the Linear acquisition, five-year selected data for 2015-2019, Arrow, Macnica and Apple concentration, named competitors and fabs. — FY2019 · publ. November 2019 · source ↗
- ReportedADI had $3,421.4 million of revenue in fiscal 2016 and $11,019.7 million in fiscal 2025.Analog Devices Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (year ended 1 November 2025) - financial statements, MD&A and notes: income, margins, cash flow, capital returns and debt. — FY2025 · publ. 25 November 2025 · source ↗
- ReportedAutomotive went from $758.1 million in fiscal 2017 to $3,277.9 million in 2025.Analog Devices Form 10-K for fiscal 2019 (year ended 2 November 2019) - the Linear acquisition, five-year selected data for 2015-2019, Arrow, Macnica and Apple concentration, named competitors and fabs. — FY2019 · publ. November 2019 · source ↗
- ReportedAutomotive went from $758.1 million in fiscal 2017 to $3,277.9 million in 2025.Analog Devices Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (year ended 1 November 2025) - revenue by end market, sales channel and geography, and significant distributors. — FY2025 · publ. 25 November 2025 · source ↗
- ReportedLinear's parts and Maxim's, which ADI said created "an expanded suite of top-performing mixed-signal and power management technology offerings", now sit beside its original converters and amplifiers in the same catalogue.Analog Devices Form 10-K for fiscal 2021 (year ended 30 October 2021) - the Maxim acquisition, named competitors, wafer sourcing and end-market revenue for 2019-2021. — FY2021 · publ. December 2021 · source ↗
- Moat Explorer calcOn the repo method it was 13.4% in fiscal 2015 and 16.3% in 2016, then 8.1% in 2017, 5.1% in 2021 and 5.7% in 2025.Moat Explorer calculation, repo method (tools_roic_edgar.py) on SEC EDGAR XBRL for CIK 6281: return on invested capital 13.4% (FY2015), 16.3%, 8.1%, 9.3%, 8.3%, 7.3%, 5.1%, 6.2%, 7.7%, 4.3%, 5.7% (FY2025). FY2025: operating income 2,932.5 times (1 - 444.8 / 2,712.1 = 16.4% tax) = NOPAT 2,451.6, over average invested capital (43,249 + 42,248) / 2 = 42,748; invested capital FY2025 = total assets 47,992.7 - current liabilities 3,245.8 - cash 2,499.4 = 42,248. Excluding goodwill and intangibles: FY2025 42,248 - 26,945 - 8,014 = 7,289; FY2024 43,249 - 26,910 - 9,585 = 6,754; average 7,022; 2,451.6 / 7,022 = 34.9%. — FY2015-FY2025 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗Method: NOPAT (operating income times one minus the effective tax rate, capped at 35%) divided by average operating invested capital (total assets less current liabilities less cash and equivalents), SEC EDGAR XBRL. The ex-goodwill figure removes goodwill and net intangible assets from invested capital.
- Moat Explorer calcRemove the goodwill and intangibles and the business earns about 34.9%.Moat Explorer calculation, repo method (tools_roic_edgar.py) on SEC EDGAR XBRL for CIK 6281: return on invested capital 13.4% (FY2015), 16.3%, 8.1%, 9.3%, 8.3%, 7.3%, 5.1%, 6.2%, 7.7%, 4.3%, 5.7% (FY2025). FY2025: operating income 2,932.5 times (1 - 444.8 / 2,712.1 = 16.4% tax) = NOPAT 2,451.6, over average invested capital (43,249 + 42,248) / 2 = 42,748; invested capital FY2025 = total assets 47,992.7 - current liabilities 3,245.8 - cash 2,499.4 = 42,248. Excluding goodwill and intangibles: FY2025 42,248 - 26,945 - 8,014 = 7,289; FY2024 43,249 - 26,910 - 9,585 = 6,754; average 7,022; 2,451.6 / 7,022 = 34.9%. — FY2015-FY2025 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗Method: NOPAT (operating income times one minus the effective tax rate, capped at 35%) divided by average operating invested capital (total assets less current liabilities less cash and equivalents), SEC EDGAR XBRL. The ex-goodwill figure removes goodwill and net intangible assets from invested capital.
- ReportedOf $18,027.8 million of gross acquired intangibles at the end of fiscal 2025, $10,335.9 million were customer relationships and $7,617.9 million technology.Analog Devices Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (year ended 1 November 2025) - goodwill, intangible assets and their amortisation schedule, and the single reporting unit. — FY2025 · publ. 25 November 2025 · source ↗
- Moat Explorer calcAfter amortisation, customer relationships still carried $5,024.7 million.Moat Explorer calculation from Analog Devices reported figures ($ millions unless stated; fiscal years ending late October or early November). Revenue growth: FY2025 11,019.7 / 9,427.2 - 1 = +16.9%; FY2024 9,427.2 / 12,305.5 - 1 = -23.4%; FY2023 12,305.5 / 12,014.0 - 1 = +2.4%; FY2022 12,014.0 / 7,318.3 - 1 = +64.2%; FY2021 7,318.3 / 5,603.1 - 1 = +30.6%; FY2020 5,603.1 / 5,991.1 - 1 = -6.5%; FY2019 5,991.1 / 6,224.7 - 1 = -3.8%; FY2024 revenue fall 12,305.5 - 9,427.2 = 2,878.3, about $2.9bn; FY2026 implied 10,805.6 + 4,300 = 15,105.6, about $15.1bn, 15,105.6 / 11,019.7 - 1 = +37%, 15,105.6 / 12,305.5 - 1 = +23%; Q3 FY2026 quarterly revenue 4,021.9 / 3,076.1 - 1 = +30.7% on Q4 FY2025; 4,021.9 / 2,423.2 = 1.66 times Q1 FY2025. Operating income: FY2024 2,032.8 / 3,823.1 - 1 = -46.8%, a fall of 3,823.1 - 2,032.8 = 1,790.3, about $1.8bn. Gross profit FY2024 5,381.3 / 7,877.2 - 1 = -31.7%. Gross margin FY2015 2,259.3 / 3,435.1 = 65.8%; FY2016 2,227.2 / 3,421.4 = 65.1%; reported gross margin range FY2015-FY2025 57.1% (FY2024) to 68.3% (FY2018); Q3 FY2026 adjusted less reported 72.5 - 67.3 = 5.2 points. Acquisition-related expenses Q3 FY2026 209.2 (cost of sales) + 188.6 (operating expenses) = 397.8; nine months FY2026 619.4 + 565.1 = 1,184.5. People: revenue per employee FY2021 7,318.3 / 24,700 = about $296,000; FY2022 12,014.0 / 24,450 = $491,000; FY2024 9,427.2 / 24,000 = $393,000; FY2025 11,019.7 / 24,500 = $450,000; engineers 13,000 / 24,500 = 53% (FY2025), 11,000 / 24,700 = 45% (FY2021); engineers added 13,000 - 11,000 = 2,000. R&D as a share of revenue: FY2015 637.5 / 3,435.1 = 18.6%; FY2016 653.8 / 3,421.4 = 19.1%; FY2017 968.1 / 5,246.4 = 18.5%; FY2018 1,165.0 / 6,224.7 = 18.7%; FY2019 1,130.3 / 5,991.1 = 18.9%; FY2020 1,050.5 / 5,603.1 = 18.7%; FY2021 1,296.1 / 7,318.3 = 17.7%; FY2022 1,700.5 / 12,014.0 = 14.2%; FY2023 1,660.2 / 12,305.5 = 13.5%; FY2024 1,487.9 / 9,427.2 = 15.8%; FY2025 1,766.0 / 11,019.7 = 16.0%; Q3 FY2026 533.5 / 4,021.9 = 13.3%; R&D FY2024 1,487.9 / 1,700.5 - 1 = -12.5%. End markets: FY2024 over FY2023 Industrial 4,290.3 / 6,565.4 - 1 = -34.7%; Communications 1,091.4 / 1,591.6 - 1 = -31.4%; Automotive 2,837.5 / 2,904.0 - 1 = -2.3%; Consumer 1,207.9 / 1,244.6 - 1 = -3.0%. FY2025 over FY2024 Industrial 4,929.4 / 4,290.3 - 1 = +14.9%; Automotive 3,277.9 / 2,837.5 - 1 = +15.5%; Communications 1,377.9 / 1,091.4 - 1 = +26.2%; Consumer 1,434.6 / 1,207.9 - 1 = +18.8%. FY2017 to FY2025: Industrial 4,929.4 / 2,324.7 = 2.12 times, 9.9% a year; Automotive 3,277.9 / 758.1 = 4.3 times, 20.1% a year; Communications 1,377.9 / 908.6 = 1.52 times, 5.3% a year; Consumer 1,434.6 / 1,255.0 = 1.14 times, 1.7% a year. Consumer share 1,255.0 / 5,246.4 = 23.9% (FY2017), 933.8 / 6,224.7 = 15.0%, 752.3 / 5,991.1 = 12.6%, 624.9 / 5,603.1 = 11.2%, 1,519.9 / 12,014.0 = 12.7%, 1,244.6 / 12,305.5 = 10.1%, 1,434.6 / 11,019.7 = 13.0% (FY2025), Q3 FY2026 397.2 / 4,021.9 = 9.9%. Automotive share 3,277.9 / 11,019.7 = 29.7% (FY2025), Q3 FY2025 857.1 / 2,880.3 = 29.8%, Q3 FY2026 998.2 / 4,021.9 = 24.8%. Communications share Q3 FY2025 354.8 / 2,880.3 = 12.3%, Q3 FY2026 654.5 / 4,021.9 = 16.3%. Industrial plus Communications (4,929.4 + 1,377.9) / 11,019.7 = 57.2% (FY2025); Q3 FY2026 (1,971.9 + 654.5 = 2,626.4) / 4,021.9 = 65.3%. Trailing twelve months to August 2026 (Q4 FY2025 + Q1 + Q2 + Q3 FY2026): Industrial 1,426.5 + 1,489.3 + 1,799.4 + 1,971.9 = 6,687.1; Automotive 852.2 + 794.4 + 871.6 + 998.2 = 3,516.4; Communications 389.8 + 476.8 + 554.7 + 654.5 = 2,075.8; Consumer 407.5 + 399.8 + 397.8 + 397.2 = 1,602.3. Distributor revenue Q3 FY2026 2,327.1 / 1,592.4 - 1 = +46.1%. Geography: China share of revenue 898.6 / 5,246.4 = 17.1% (FY2017); 1,215.9 / 6,224.7 = 19.5%; 1,316.3 / 5,991.1 = 22.0%; 1,348.0 / 5,603.1 = 24.1%; 1,614.4 / 7,318.3 = 22.1%; 2,563.5 / 12,014.0 = 21.3%; 2,229.6 / 12,305.5 = 18.1%; 2,128.8 / 9,427.2 = 22.6%; 2,858.3 / 11,019.7 = 25.9% (FY2025); China growth 2,858.3 / 2,128.8 - 1 = +34.3%; United States growth 3,238.1 / 2,840.4 - 1 = +14.0%; China over United States 2,858.3 / 3,238.1 = 88%; United States share 3,238.1 / 11,019.7 = 29.4% (FY2025), 4,165.3 / 12,305.5 = 33.8% (FY2023). Customers: distributors at 10% or more FY2024 24% + 12% + 12% = 48%; FY2025 24% + 13% = 37% (a second distributor below 10%). Acquisitions and balance sheet: Linear price 15.8bn / FY2016 revenue 3.42bn = 4.6 times; goodwill FY2017 12,217.5 / FY2016 1,679.1 = 7.3 times; goodwill 1 August 2026 27,988.7 / FY2015 1,636.5 = 17.1 times; Maxim goodwill added 26,918.5 - 12,278.4 = 14,640.1, about $14.6bn; Linear plus Maxim 15.8 + 28.0 = 43.8, about $44bn; goodwill and intangibles (26,945.2 + 8,013.8) / 47,992.7 = 72.8% (1 November 2025); (27,988.7 + 7,468.2 = 35,456.9) / 48,424.4 = 73.2% (1 August 2026); other assets 47,992.7 - 26,945.2 - 8,013.8 = 13,033.7; market value over equity 191.61bn / 33.55bn = 5.7 times; over goodwill 191.61 / 27.99 = 6.8 times; amortisation fall FY2026 to FY2030 1,537.5 - 404.2 = 1,133.3; Empower plus Alif 1.5 + 1.35 + 0.2 = 3.05bn; Empower 1.5 / total assets 48.4 = 3%. Cash: free cash flow = operating cash flow less capital expenditure: FY2015 907.8 - 154.0 = 753.8 (21.9% of revenue); FY2016 1,291.3 - 127.4 = 1,163.9 (34.0%); FY2017 1,154.4 - 204.1 = 950.3 (18.1%); FY2018 2,442.4 - 254.9 = 2,187.5 (35.1%); FY2019 2,253.1 - 275.4 = 1,977.7 (33.0%); FY2020 2,008.5 - 165.7 = 1,842.8 (32.9%); FY2021 2,735.1 - 343.7 = 2,391.4 (32.7%); FY2022 4,475.4 - 699.3 = 3,776.1 (31.4%); FY2023 4,817.6 - 1,261.5 = 3,556.1 (28.9%); FY2024 3,852.5 - 730.5 = 3,122.0 (33.1%); FY2025 4,278.6 / 11,019.7 = 38.8%; TTM August 2026 4,937.5 / 13,881.5 = 36%. Capital expenditure as a share of revenue: FY2015 4.5%, FY2016 3.7%, FY2017 3.9%, FY2018 4.1%, FY2019 4.6%, FY2020 3.0%, FY2021 4.7%, FY2022 699.3 / 12,014.0 = 5.8%, FY2023 1,261.5 / 12,305.5 = 10.3%, FY2024 730.5 / 9,427.2 = 7.7%, FY2025 533.6 / 11,019.7 = 4.8%, TTM 607.8 / 13,881.5 = 4.4%; FY2025 over FY2023 533.6 / 1,261.5 = 42%. Cash returned over free cash flow: FY2021 (1,109.3 dividends + 2,605.1 buybacks) / 2,391.4 = 155%; FY2022 (1,544.6 + 2,577.0) / 3,776.1 = 109%; FY2023 (1,679.1 + 2,964.0) / 3,556.1 = 131%; FY2024 (1,795.5 + 615.6) / 3,122.0 = 77%; FY2025 (1,924.4 + 2,164.6) / 4,278.6 = 96%; TTM 5,170 / 4,937.5 = 105%. Buybacks FY2024 615.6 / FY2023 2,964.0 = 21%, a fall of 79%; FY2021-FY2025 2,605.1 + 2,577.0 + 2,964.0 + 615.6 + 2,164.6 = 10,926.3, about $11bn. Dividends per share over diluted EPS: FY2015 1.57 / 2.20 = 71%; FY2018 1.89 / 4.00 = 47%; FY2020 2.40 / 3.28 = 73%; FY2022 2.97 / 5.25 = 57%; FY2023 3.34 / 6.55 = 51%; FY2024 3.62 / 3.28 = 110%; FY2025 3.89 / 4.56 = 85%. Dividend per share growth (3.89 / 1.57) ^ (1/10) - 1 = 9.5% a year. Shares outstanding 484,565,465 / 496,296,854 - 1 = -2.4%; 484,565,465 / 489,654,097 - 1 = -1.0%. Debt: net debt 1 November 2025 = long-term debt 8,145.1 + commercial paper 446.6 - cash 2,499.4 - short-term investments 1,152.9 = 4,939.4; 1 August 2026 = 6,771.6 + 1,344.9 + 1,005.1 - 2,165.9 - 159.1 = 6,796.6; net debt over trailing free cash flow 6,796.6 / 4,937.5 = 1.4 times; cash and short-term investments 2,499.4 + 1,152.9 = 3,652.3 (FY2025 end) and 2,165.9 + 159.1 = 2,324.9 (1 August 2026); commercial paper 1,005.1 / 446.6 = 2.25 times. Working capital: receivables 2,389.6 / 1,436.1 - 1 = +66.4%; inventories 1,931.5 / 1,656.3 - 1 = +16.6%. Earnings and valuation: trailing net income to August 2026 = FY2025 2,267.3 - nine months FY2025 1,479.6 + nine months FY2026 3,347.3 = 4,135.0; market value 191.61bn / 4,135.0 = 46.3 times; FY2026 EPS build reported 6.83 + 3.14 = 9.97, adjusted 8.99 + 3.86 = 12.85; Q4 adjusted EPS guide low end 3.86 - 0.15 = 3.71. Year-end market value over fiscal-year net income: 17.26bn / 696.9 = 24.8 (FY2015); 32.82bn / 805.4 = 40.8 (FY2017); 31.77bn / 1,507.0 = 21.1 (FY2018); 54.58bn / 1,220.8 = 44.7 (FY2020); 92.34bn / 1,390.4 = 66.4 (FY2021); 83.54bn / 2,748.6 = 30.4 (FY2022); 98.54bn / 3,314.6 = 29.7 (FY2023); 105.44bn / 1,635.3 = 64.5 (FY2024); 132.79bn / 2,267.3 = 58.6 (FY2025). Additional: Q3 FY2025 shares of revenue Industrial 1,293.0 / 2,880.3 = 44.9%, Consumer 375.4 / 2,880.3 = 13.0%; Q3 FY2026 Industrial 1,971.9 / 4,021.9 = 49.0%; Industrial share Q1 FY2025 1,080.7 / 2,423.2 = 44.6%; Industrial Q3 FY2026 over Q1 FY2025 1,971.9 / 1,080.7 = 1.82 times, about 82% higher. Consumer growth Q1 FY2026 399.8 / 314.7 - 1 = +27%; Q2 FY2026 397.8 / 323.1 - 1 = +23%. Return on equity FY2025 2,267.3 / average (35,176.3 + 33,815.8) / 2 = 6.6%; FY2024 1,635.3 / average (35,565.1 + 35,176.3) / 2 = 4.6%. Customer relationships net of amortisation 10,335.9 - 5,311.2 = 5,024.7. Dividends paid 1,924.4 / 491.1 = 3.9 times. Regions FY2025 against FY2023: Japan 989.9 / 1,397.1 - 1 = -29.1%; Europe 2,285.6 / 3,001.9 - 1 = -23.9%; China 2,858.3 / 2,229.6 - 1 = +28.2%; rest of Asia 1,485.3 against 1,423.0; United States 3,238.1 against 4,165.3. Share price 395.43 / 445.91 - 1 = -11.3% from the 52-week high; 445.91 / 223.47 = 2.0 times; price-to-sales end FY2022 83.54bn / 12,014.0 = 7.0; trailing Communications 2,075.8 against FY2022 1,855.3. Competitors: Texas Instruments 2025 free cash flow 2,938 / revenue 17,682 = 16.6%; ADI 38.8% - 16.6% = 22.2 points; ADI revenue 11,019.7 / TI 17,682 = 62%; capital expenditure 4,550 / 533.6 = 8.5 times - acquisitions, goodwill, amortisation and valuation. — FY2015-Q3 FY2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Analog Devices Forms 10-K, 10-Q and results releases, SEC XBRL, and the Texas Instruments 2025 Form 10-K; each operand is stated in the source line.
- ReportedHittite, bought in fiscal 2014, was the smaller precedent.Analog Devices Form 10-K for fiscal 2022 (year ended 29 October 2022) - end-market, channel and geographic revenue for 2020-2022 and the acquisition history. — FY2022 · publ. November 2022 · source ↗