VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Sunday, January 11, 2026

Stock Comparison

Alibaba Group Holding Limited vs Auto Trader Group plc

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

Alibaba Group Holding Limited

9988.HK · The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited

Market cap (USD)$2.7T
Gross margin (TTM)41.2%
Operating margin (TTM)10.9%
Net margin (TTM)12.2%
SectorConsumer
IndustrySpecialty Retail
CountryKY
Data as of2025-12-29
Moat score
56/ 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 Alibaba Group Holding Limited's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View 9988.HK analysis

Auto Trader Group plc

AUTO · London Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorCommunication Services
Industry
CountryGB
Data as of2026-01-10
Moat score
96/ 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 Auto Trader Group plc's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View AUTO analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Auto Trader Group plc leads (96 / 100 vs 56 / 100 for Alibaba Group Holding Limited).
  • Segment focus: Alibaba Group Holding Limited has 7 segments (41% in Taobao and Tmall Group); Auto Trader Group plc has 2 segments (93.3% in Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: Alibaba Group Holding Limited has 6 moat types across 3 domains; Auto Trader Group plc has 4 across 2.

Primary market context

Alibaba Group Holding Limited

Taobao and Tmall Group

Market

China online retail marketplaces & merchant services (Taobao, Tmall, 1688)

Geography

China

Customer

Consumers and merchants/brands

Role

Marketplace + advertising/merchant services

Revenue share

41%

Auto Trader Group plc

Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)

Market

UK digital automotive marketplace (new & used) with retailer advertising/data products

Geography

United Kingdom

Customer

Consumers, vehicle retailers, OEMs/advertising agencies

Role

Two-sided marketplace + advertising/data & workflow tools

Revenue share

93.3%

Side-by-side metrics

Alibaba Group Holding Limited
Auto Trader Group plc
Ticker / Exchange
9988.HK - The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited
AUTO - London Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$2.7T
n/a
Gross margin (TTM)
41.2%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
10.9%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
12.2%
n/a
Sector
Consumer
Communication Services
Industry
Specialty Retail
n/a
HQ country
KY
GB
Primary segment
Taobao and Tmall Group
Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)
Market structure
Oligopoly
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
n/a
75%-80% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
56 / 100
96 / 100
Moat domains
Network, Supply, Demand
Network, Demand
Last update
2025-12-29
2026-01-10

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Two Sided NetworkEcosystem Complements

Alibaba Group Holding Limited strengths

Capex Knowhow ScaleSwitching Costs GeneralSupply Chain ControlBrand Trust

Auto Trader Group plc strengths

Data Workflow LockinHabit Default

Segment mix

Alibaba Group Holding Limited segments

Full profile >

Taobao and Tmall Group

Oligopoly

41%

Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group

Competitive

12.1%

Cloud Intelligence Group (Alibaba Cloud)

Oligopoly

10.8%

Cainiao Smart Logistics Network Limited

Competitive

9.2%

Local Services Group

Oligopoly

6.1%

Digital Media and Entertainment Group

Competitive

2%

All Others

Competitive

18.8%

Auto Trader Group plc segments

Full profile >

Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)

Quasi-Monopoly

93.3%

Autorama (vehicle leasing marketplace)

Competitive

6.7%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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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.