VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Stock Comparison
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. vs W.W. Grainger, Inc.
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
ADP · NASDAQ
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into Automatic Data Processing, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View ADP 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: Automatic Data Processing, Inc. leads (71 / 100 vs 65 / 100 for W.W. Grainger, Inc.).
- Segment focus: Automatic Data Processing, Inc. has 2 segments (67.5% in Employer Services); 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: Automatic Data Processing, Inc. has 7 moat types across 4 domains; W.W. Grainger, Inc. has 5 across 2.
Primary market context
Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
Employer Services
Payroll processing and cloud HCM (HR, time, talent, tax, benefits) software and outsourcing
Global
Businesses (SMB to large enterprise)
SaaS and managed services provider
67.5%
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
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. strengths
W.W. Grainger, Inc. strengths
Segment mix
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. segments
Full profile >Employer Services
Oligopoly
Professional Employer Organization (PEO) Services
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.