VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co., Ltd. vs American Water Works Company, Inc.

Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.

Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co., Ltd.

600887 · Shanghai Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$175.1B
Gross margin (TTM)33.4%
Operating margin (TTM)7.9%
Net margin (TTM)6.8%
SectorConsumer
IndustryPackaged Foods
CountryCN
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
72/ 100

Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.

Full stock profile

Dive deeper into Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co., Ltd.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View 600887 analysis

American Water Works Company, Inc.

AWK · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$25B
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorUtilities
Industry
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-09
Moat score
79/ 100

Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.

Full stock profile

Dive deeper into American Water Works Company, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View AWK analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: American Water Works Company, Inc. leads (79 / 100 vs 72 / 100 for Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co., Ltd.).
  • Segment focus: Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co., Ltd. has 4 segments (65.7% in Liquid Milk); American Water Works Company, Inc. has 2 segments (91.7% in Regulated Businesses).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Monopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co., Ltd. has 4 moat types across 2 domains; American Water Works Company, Inc. has 8 across 3.

Primary market context

Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co., Ltd.

Liquid Milk

Market

China branded liquid dairy (ambient and chilled milk, yogurt, dairy beverages)

Geography

China (primarily)

Customer

Retail consumers

Role

Branded manufacturer and distributor

Revenue share

65.7%

American Water Works Company, Inc.

Regulated Businesses

Market

Regulated water and wastewater utility service in certificated/franchised territories

Geography

United States (14-state footprint)

Customer

Residential, commercial, industrial, public authority, fire service, and sale-for-resale customers

Role

Regulated utility owner/operator (water & wastewater)

Revenue share

91.7%

Side-by-side metrics

Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co., Ltd.
American Water Works Company, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
600887 - Shanghai Stock Exchange
AWK - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$175.1B
$25B
Gross margin (TTM)
33.4%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
7.9%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
6.8%
n/a
Sector
Consumer
Utilities
Industry
Packaged Foods
n/a
HQ country
CN
US
Primary segment
Liquid Milk
Regulated Businesses
Market structure
Oligopoly
Monopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
72 / 100
79 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Legal, Supply, Demand
Last update
2025-12-30
2026-01-09

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Scale Economies Unit Cost

Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co., Ltd. strengths

Brand TrustDistribution ControlCapex Knowhow Scale

American Water Works Company, Inc. strengths

Concession LicensePhysical Network DensityPermits Rights Of WayCompliance AdvantageLong Term ContractsGovernment Contracting RelationshipsOperational Excellence

Segment mix

Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co., Ltd. segments

Full profile >

Liquid Milk

Oligopoly

65.7%

Milk Powder and Dairy Products

Oligopoly

26%

Cold Drinks (Ice Cream)

Competitive

7.6%

Other Products

Competitive

0.6%

American Water Works Company, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Regulated Businesses

Monopoly

91.7%

Military and Contract Water Services (Other)

Duopoly

8.3%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.

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Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.

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Curation & Accuracy

This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).

Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.