VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Stock Comparison
Alibaba Group Holding Limited vs W.W. Grainger, Inc.
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
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 analysisW.W. Grainger, Inc.
GWW · New York Stock Exchange
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into W.W. Grainger, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View GWW analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: W.W. Grainger, Inc. leads (65 / 100 vs 56 / 100 for Alibaba Group Holding Limited).
- Segment focus: Alibaba Group Holding Limited has 7 segments (41% in Taobao and Tmall Group); W.W. Grainger, Inc. has 3 segments (79.9% in High-Touch Solutions N.A.).
- Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: Alibaba Group Holding Limited has 6 moat types across 3 domains; W.W. Grainger, Inc. has 5 across 2.
Primary market context
Alibaba Group Holding Limited
Taobao and Tmall Group
China online retail marketplaces & merchant services (Taobao, Tmall, 1688)
China
Consumers and merchants/brands
Marketplace + advertising/merchant services
41%
W.W. Grainger, Inc.
High-Touch Solutions N.A.
MRO (maintenance, repair and operations) products distribution and value-added inventory/procurement solutions
North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico)
Mid-size and large businesses with complex purchasing operations; also government and institutions
Distributor / wholesaler + onsite inventory services
79.9%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
No overlap yet.
Alibaba Group Holding Limited strengths
W.W. Grainger, Inc. strengths
Segment mix
Alibaba Group Holding Limited segments
Full profile >Taobao and Tmall Group
Oligopoly
Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group
Competitive
Cloud Intelligence Group (Alibaba Cloud)
Oligopoly
Cainiao Smart Logistics Network Limited
Competitive
Local Services Group
Oligopoly
Digital Media and Entertainment Group
Competitive
All Others
Competitive
W.W. Grainger, Inc. segments
Full profile >High-Touch Solutions N.A.
Competitive
Endless Assortment
Competitive
Other (Cromwell U.K. + captive insurance)
Competitive
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View the moat stocks listCuration & 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.