Ninety-Six Factories in Thirty-Two CountriesWide moat

Procter & Gamble (PG) — moat facet

P&G makes its goods in 96 plants across 32 countries, a footprint built for heavy, cheap products that no rival can assemble quickly.

P&G's manufacturing footprint is one of the hardest parts of its moat to copy. It owns and operates 24 manufacturing sites in 18 American states and 72 sites in 31 other countries1. By segment, Fabric & Home Care uses 34 sites, Baby, Feminine & Family Care 32, Beauty 20, Health Care 19 and Grooming 172. Of its roughly 104,000 employees, 49% work in manufacturing roles3.

Manufacturing sites by segment, FY2026Fabric and Home Care34Baby, Feminine and Family Care32Beauty20Health Care19Grooming17P&G Form 10-K FY2026, Item 2 properties (some sites serve several segments)
The bulky categories need the most plants.

The logic is weight and bulk. Detergent, paper towels and nappies are cheap per kilogram and expensive to ship, so a company that makes them near its customers has a cost advantage over one that imports. A rival wanting to match P&G across fabric care, paper and baby care would need dozens of plants on several continents before it sold a single extra unit.

The footprint keeps getting investment. Capital spending was $4,409 million in fiscal 2026, up from $3,773 million in fiscal 2025 and $3,322 million in fiscal 20244, about 5.1% of net sales5. The heaviest spenders are the paper and absorbent businesses: Baby, Feminine & Family Care spent $1,520 million, 7.5% of its sales, and Grooming $540 million, 7.8%67.

The plants also served P&G when tariffs arrived in 2025, because a quarter of its sites are in the United States, its largest market8.

The workforce reflects the footprint. Of P&G's employees, 28% are in the United States and 42% are women9. The plants are where the jobs that the restructuring does not touch sit: the 7,000-role reduction applies only to non-manufacturing overhead10.

This is a wide, capital-hungry advantage. What would weaken it is spending that stops earning a return; if capital spending keeps rising toward the top of P&G's guided range of 4.5% to 5.5% of sales11 while volume stays flat, the plants will be a cost, not a moat. Capital spending as a share of sales, 5.1% in fiscal 202612, is the number.

Moat trajectory: Holding steady

Capex up to $4,409M (5.1% of sales) in FY2026.

The number that tests this moat
Reported
Capital expenditures, FY2026
$4,409M (5.1% of net sales)

The cost of keeping the plant network ahead; rising spend with flat volume would lower the return on it.

Source: P&G Form 10-K, FY2026 ↗
⚠ Threats to the moat
⚠ THREAT 01
Capital Spending Rising Toward 5.5% of Sales
P&G's capital spending rose a third in two years while its sales rose 4%.
References
  1. ReportedIt owns and operates 24 manufacturing sites in 18 American states and 72 sites in 31 other countries.
    Procter & Gamble Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 (year ended 30 June 2026) - Item 1 business and Item 2 properties: employees, manufacturing sites, customers, channels, competition and strategy. — FY2026 · publ. 4 August 2026 · source ↗
  2. ReportedBy segment, Fabric & Home Care uses 34 sites, Baby, Feminine & Family Care 32, Beauty 20, Health Care 19 and Grooming 17.
    Procter & Gamble Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 (year ended 30 June 2026) - Item 1 business and Item 2 properties: employees, manufacturing sites, customers, channels, competition and strategy. — FY2026 · publ. 4 August 2026 · source ↗
  3. ReportedOf its roughly 104,000 employees, 49% work in manufacturing roles.
    Procter & Gamble Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 (year ended 30 June 2026) - Item 1 business and Item 2 properties: employees, manufacturing sites, customers, channels, competition and strategy. — FY2026 · publ. 4 August 2026 · source ↗
  4. ReportedCapital spending was $4,409 million in fiscal 2026, up from $3,773 million in fiscal 2025 and $3,322 million in fiscal 2024, about 5.1% of net sales.
    Procter & Gamble Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 (year ended 30 June 2026) - consolidated statements of earnings, cash flows and financial position, debt and dividends. — FY2026 · publ. 4 August 2026 · source ↗
  5. Moat Explorer calcCapital spending was $4,409 million in fiscal 2026, up from $3,773 million in fiscal 2025 and $3,322 million in fiscal 2024, about 5.1% of net sales.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Procter & Gamble's reported figures ($ millions unless stated; fiscal years end 30 June). Net debt: FY2026 11,296 + 22,842 - 9,942 = 24,196; 24,196 / 54,311 = 0.45 times equity; 24,196 / 19,556 = 1.24 years of operating cash flow; debt due within one year 11,296 / (11,296 + 22,842) = 33% of debt; FY2025 9,513 + 24,995 - 9,556 = 24,952; FY2024 7,191 + 25,269 - 9,482 = 22,978. Capital spending 4,409 / 87,032 = 5.1% of net sales. Adjusted free cash flow over dividends 15,835 / 10,232 = 1.55 times. Dividends paid over net earnings attributable: 10,232 / 16,046 = 63.8% (FY2026); 9,872 / 15,974 = 61.8% (FY2025); 9,312 / 14,879 = 62.6% (FY2024). Buybacks 5,028 / 11,009 = 45.7% of the FY2021 peak. Peer market values on 25 September 2026 ($bn): 132.99 + 68.60 + 34.19 + 34.18 + 32.74 + 22.86 + 10.13 = 335.69, against P&G 339.64; P&G / Clorox 339.64 / 10.13 = 33.5 times. P/E: 339.64 / 16.046 = 21.2 (now); 394.82 / 14.879 = 26.5 (December 2024 over FY2024). Free cash flow yield 15,835 / 339,640 = 4.7%. Goodwill plus Gillette brand 41,276 + 12,800 = 54,076; 54,076 / 126,521 = 42.7% of total assets. Segments (five reportable, excluding Corporate): FY2026 sales 16,023 + 6,918 + 12,456 + 30,314 + 20,401 = 86,112; net earnings 2,672 + 1,529 + 2,404 + 5,632 + 3,930 = 16,167; FY2025 net earnings 2,715 + 1,577 + 2,440 + 5,848 + 4,013 = 16,593; 16,167 / 16,593 - 1 = -2.6%. Segment net earnings changes FY2026: Beauty 2,672 / 2,715 - 1 = -1.6%; Grooming 1,529 / 1,577 - 1 = -3.0%; Health Care 2,404 / 2,440 - 1 = -1.5%; Fabric & Home Care 5,632 / 5,848 - 1 = -3.7%; Baby, Feminine & Family Care 3,930 / 4,013 - 1 = -2.1%. Fabric & Home Care share of segment net earnings 5,632 / 16,167 = 34.8%. Pre-tax margins FY2026: Beauty 3,473 / 16,023 = 21.7%; Grooming 1,966 / 6,918 = 28.4%; Health Care 3,163 / 12,456 = 25.4%; Fabric & Home Care 7,290 / 30,314 = 24.0%; Baby, Feminine & Family Care 5,145 / 20,401 = 25.2%. Net margins FY2023: Beauty 3,178 / 15,008 = 21.2%; Health Care 2,125 / 11,226 = 18.9%; Fabric & Home Care 4,828 / 28,371 = 17.0%; Baby, Feminine & Family Care 3,545 / 20,217 = 17.5%. Three-year growth FY2023-FY2026: Health Care sales 12,456 / 11,226 - 1 = 11.0%; Health Care net earnings 2,404 / 2,125 - 1 = 13.1%; Grooming sales 6,918 / 6,419 - 1 = 7.8%; Baby, Feminine & Family Care sales 20,401 / 20,217 - 1 = 0.9%. Segment capital spending over sales FY2026: Grooming 540 / 6,918 = 7.8%; Baby, Feminine & Family Care 1,520 / 20,401 = 7.5%; Health Care 592 / 12,456 = 4.8%; Fabric & Home Care 1,250 / 30,314 = 4.1%; Beauty 415 / 16,023 = 2.6%. Geography FY2026 ($bn): international 45.3 / 87.0 = 52.1%; United States 41.7 / 87.0 = 47.9%. Walmart about 16% x 87,032 = 13,925, about $13.9 billion. Top ten customers less Walmart (rounded percentages): FY2017 35 - 16 = 19; FY2020 38 - 15 = 23; FY2023 40 - 15 = 25; FY2026 43 - 16 = 27. Dividend per share 4.2589 / 4.0763 - 1 = 4.5% (FY2026); 4.0763 / 3.8286 - 1 = 6.5% (FY2025). Market exit charges after tax 1,200 + 131 = 1,331. P&G / Unilever market value 339.64 / 132.99 = 2.6 times. Restructuring charges FY2024-FY2026 659 + 1,114 + 1,230 = 3,003. Gillette write-downs 8.3 + 1.3 = 9.6 billion. Operating margin 19,748 / 87,032 = 22.7% (FY2026); 20,451 / 84,284 = 24.3% (FY2025) - balance sheet, cash returns and valuation. — FY2015-FY2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Procter & Gamble's Forms 10-K, results releases, earnings slides and market data; operands shown in the source line.
  6. ReportedThe heaviest spenders are the paper and absorbent businesses: Baby, Feminine & Family Care spent $1,520 million, 7.5% of its sales, and Grooming $540 million, 7.8%.
    Procter & Gamble Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 (year ended 30 June 2026) - Note 2 segment information: net sales, earnings before tax, net earnings, margins, capital spending and depreciation by segment. — FY2026 · publ. 4 August 2026 · source ↗
  7. Moat Explorer calcThe heaviest spenders are the paper and absorbent businesses: Baby, Feminine & Family Care spent $1,520 million, 7.5% of its sales, and Grooming $540 million, 7.8%.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Procter & Gamble's reported figures ($ millions unless stated; fiscal years end 30 June). Net debt: FY2026 11,296 + 22,842 - 9,942 = 24,196; 24,196 / 54,311 = 0.45 times equity; 24,196 / 19,556 = 1.24 years of operating cash flow; debt due within one year 11,296 / (11,296 + 22,842) = 33% of debt; FY2025 9,513 + 24,995 - 9,556 = 24,952; FY2024 7,191 + 25,269 - 9,482 = 22,978. Capital spending 4,409 / 87,032 = 5.1% of net sales. Adjusted free cash flow over dividends 15,835 / 10,232 = 1.55 times. Dividends paid over net earnings attributable: 10,232 / 16,046 = 63.8% (FY2026); 9,872 / 15,974 = 61.8% (FY2025); 9,312 / 14,879 = 62.6% (FY2024). Buybacks 5,028 / 11,009 = 45.7% of the FY2021 peak. Peer market values on 25 September 2026 ($bn): 132.99 + 68.60 + 34.19 + 34.18 + 32.74 + 22.86 + 10.13 = 335.69, against P&G 339.64; P&G / Clorox 339.64 / 10.13 = 33.5 times. P/E: 339.64 / 16.046 = 21.2 (now); 394.82 / 14.879 = 26.5 (December 2024 over FY2024). Free cash flow yield 15,835 / 339,640 = 4.7%. Goodwill plus Gillette brand 41,276 + 12,800 = 54,076; 54,076 / 126,521 = 42.7% of total assets. Segments (five reportable, excluding Corporate): FY2026 sales 16,023 + 6,918 + 12,456 + 30,314 + 20,401 = 86,112; net earnings 2,672 + 1,529 + 2,404 + 5,632 + 3,930 = 16,167; FY2025 net earnings 2,715 + 1,577 + 2,440 + 5,848 + 4,013 = 16,593; 16,167 / 16,593 - 1 = -2.6%. Segment net earnings changes FY2026: Beauty 2,672 / 2,715 - 1 = -1.6%; Grooming 1,529 / 1,577 - 1 = -3.0%; Health Care 2,404 / 2,440 - 1 = -1.5%; Fabric & Home Care 5,632 / 5,848 - 1 = -3.7%; Baby, Feminine & Family Care 3,930 / 4,013 - 1 = -2.1%. Fabric & Home Care share of segment net earnings 5,632 / 16,167 = 34.8%. Pre-tax margins FY2026: Beauty 3,473 / 16,023 = 21.7%; Grooming 1,966 / 6,918 = 28.4%; Health Care 3,163 / 12,456 = 25.4%; Fabric & Home Care 7,290 / 30,314 = 24.0%; Baby, Feminine & Family Care 5,145 / 20,401 = 25.2%. Net margins FY2023: Beauty 3,178 / 15,008 = 21.2%; Health Care 2,125 / 11,226 = 18.9%; Fabric & Home Care 4,828 / 28,371 = 17.0%; Baby, Feminine & Family Care 3,545 / 20,217 = 17.5%. Three-year growth FY2023-FY2026: Health Care sales 12,456 / 11,226 - 1 = 11.0%; Health Care net earnings 2,404 / 2,125 - 1 = 13.1%; Grooming sales 6,918 / 6,419 - 1 = 7.8%; Baby, Feminine & Family Care sales 20,401 / 20,217 - 1 = 0.9%. Segment capital spending over sales FY2026: Grooming 540 / 6,918 = 7.8%; Baby, Feminine & Family Care 1,520 / 20,401 = 7.5%; Health Care 592 / 12,456 = 4.8%; Fabric & Home Care 1,250 / 30,314 = 4.1%; Beauty 415 / 16,023 = 2.6%. Geography FY2026 ($bn): international 45.3 / 87.0 = 52.1%; United States 41.7 / 87.0 = 47.9%. Walmart about 16% x 87,032 = 13,925, about $13.9 billion. Top ten customers less Walmart (rounded percentages): FY2017 35 - 16 = 19; FY2020 38 - 15 = 23; FY2023 40 - 15 = 25; FY2026 43 - 16 = 27. Dividend per share 4.2589 / 4.0763 - 1 = 4.5% (FY2026); 4.0763 / 3.8286 - 1 = 6.5% (FY2025). Market exit charges after tax 1,200 + 131 = 1,331. P&G / Unilever market value 339.64 / 132.99 = 2.6 times. Restructuring charges FY2024-FY2026 659 + 1,114 + 1,230 = 3,003. Gillette write-downs 8.3 + 1.3 = 9.6 billion. Operating margin 19,748 / 87,032 = 22.7% (FY2026); 20,451 / 84,284 = 24.3% (FY2025) - segment results, geography and customer concentration. — FY2015-FY2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Procter & Gamble's Forms 10-K, results releases, earnings slides and market data; operands shown in the source line.
  8. ReportedThe plants also served P&G when tariffs arrived in 2025, because a quarter of its sites are in the United States, its largest market.
    Procter & Gamble Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 (year ended 30 June 2026) - Item 1 business and Item 2 properties: employees, manufacturing sites, customers, channels, competition and strategy. — FY2026 · publ. 4 August 2026 · source ↗
  9. ReportedOf P&G's employees, 28% are in the United States and 42% are women.
    Procter & Gamble Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 (year ended 30 June 2026) - Item 1 business and Item 2 properties: employees, manufacturing sites, customers, channels, competition and strategy. — FY2026 · publ. 4 August 2026 · source ↗
  10. ReportedThe plants are where the jobs that the restructuring does not touch sit: the 7,000-role reduction applies only to non-manufacturing overhead.
    Procter & Gamble Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 (year ended 30 June 2026) - notes: restructuring, goodwill and intangibles, acquisitions and divestitures, subsequent events and commitments. — FY2026 · publ. 4 August 2026 · source ↗
  11. ReportedWhat would weaken it is spending that stops earning a return; if capital spending keeps rising toward the top of P&G's guided range of 4.5% to 5.5% of sales while volume stays flat, the plants will be a cost, not a moat.
    Procter & Gamble fourth-quarter and fiscal 2026 results release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1, with fiscal 2027 guidance - fiscal 2027 guidance. — Q4 FY2026 · publ. 29 July 2026 · source ↗
  12. Moat Explorer calcCapital spending as a share of sales, 5.1% in fiscal 2026, is the number.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Procter & Gamble's reported figures ($ millions unless stated; fiscal years end 30 June). Net debt: FY2026 11,296 + 22,842 - 9,942 = 24,196; 24,196 / 54,311 = 0.45 times equity; 24,196 / 19,556 = 1.24 years of operating cash flow; debt due within one year 11,296 / (11,296 + 22,842) = 33% of debt; FY2025 9,513 + 24,995 - 9,556 = 24,952; FY2024 7,191 + 25,269 - 9,482 = 22,978. Capital spending 4,409 / 87,032 = 5.1% of net sales. Adjusted free cash flow over dividends 15,835 / 10,232 = 1.55 times. Dividends paid over net earnings attributable: 10,232 / 16,046 = 63.8% (FY2026); 9,872 / 15,974 = 61.8% (FY2025); 9,312 / 14,879 = 62.6% (FY2024). Buybacks 5,028 / 11,009 = 45.7% of the FY2021 peak. Peer market values on 25 September 2026 ($bn): 132.99 + 68.60 + 34.19 + 34.18 + 32.74 + 22.86 + 10.13 = 335.69, against P&G 339.64; P&G / Clorox 339.64 / 10.13 = 33.5 times. P/E: 339.64 / 16.046 = 21.2 (now); 394.82 / 14.879 = 26.5 (December 2024 over FY2024). Free cash flow yield 15,835 / 339,640 = 4.7%. Goodwill plus Gillette brand 41,276 + 12,800 = 54,076; 54,076 / 126,521 = 42.7% of total assets. Segments (five reportable, excluding Corporate): FY2026 sales 16,023 + 6,918 + 12,456 + 30,314 + 20,401 = 86,112; net earnings 2,672 + 1,529 + 2,404 + 5,632 + 3,930 = 16,167; FY2025 net earnings 2,715 + 1,577 + 2,440 + 5,848 + 4,013 = 16,593; 16,167 / 16,593 - 1 = -2.6%. Segment net earnings changes FY2026: Beauty 2,672 / 2,715 - 1 = -1.6%; Grooming 1,529 / 1,577 - 1 = -3.0%; Health Care 2,404 / 2,440 - 1 = -1.5%; Fabric & Home Care 5,632 / 5,848 - 1 = -3.7%; Baby, Feminine & Family Care 3,930 / 4,013 - 1 = -2.1%. Fabric & Home Care share of segment net earnings 5,632 / 16,167 = 34.8%. Pre-tax margins FY2026: Beauty 3,473 / 16,023 = 21.7%; Grooming 1,966 / 6,918 = 28.4%; Health Care 3,163 / 12,456 = 25.4%; Fabric & Home Care 7,290 / 30,314 = 24.0%; Baby, Feminine & Family Care 5,145 / 20,401 = 25.2%. Net margins FY2023: Beauty 3,178 / 15,008 = 21.2%; Health Care 2,125 / 11,226 = 18.9%; Fabric & Home Care 4,828 / 28,371 = 17.0%; Baby, Feminine & Family Care 3,545 / 20,217 = 17.5%. Three-year growth FY2023-FY2026: Health Care sales 12,456 / 11,226 - 1 = 11.0%; Health Care net earnings 2,404 / 2,125 - 1 = 13.1%; Grooming sales 6,918 / 6,419 - 1 = 7.8%; Baby, Feminine & Family Care sales 20,401 / 20,217 - 1 = 0.9%. Segment capital spending over sales FY2026: Grooming 540 / 6,918 = 7.8%; Baby, Feminine & Family Care 1,520 / 20,401 = 7.5%; Health Care 592 / 12,456 = 4.8%; Fabric & Home Care 1,250 / 30,314 = 4.1%; Beauty 415 / 16,023 = 2.6%. Geography FY2026 ($bn): international 45.3 / 87.0 = 52.1%; United States 41.7 / 87.0 = 47.9%. Walmart about 16% x 87,032 = 13,925, about $13.9 billion. Top ten customers less Walmart (rounded percentages): FY2017 35 - 16 = 19; FY2020 38 - 15 = 23; FY2023 40 - 15 = 25; FY2026 43 - 16 = 27. Dividend per share 4.2589 / 4.0763 - 1 = 4.5% (FY2026); 4.0763 / 3.8286 - 1 = 6.5% (FY2025). Market exit charges after tax 1,200 + 131 = 1,331. P&G / Unilever market value 339.64 / 132.99 = 2.6 times. Restructuring charges FY2024-FY2026 659 + 1,114 + 1,230 = 3,003. Gillette write-downs 8.3 + 1.3 = 9.6 billion. Operating margin 19,748 / 87,032 = 22.7% (FY2026); 20,451 / 84,284 = 24.3% (FY2025) - balance sheet, cash returns and valuation. — FY2015-FY2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Procter & Gamble's Forms 10-K, results releases, earnings slides and market data; operands shown in the source line.
Sources
Generated September 26, 2026