VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Sunday, January 11, 2026
Stock Comparison
Alcon Inc. vs Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
Alcon Inc.
ALC · New York Stock Exchange
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
ITW · 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 Illinois Tool Works Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View ITW analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: Alcon Inc. leads (71 / 100 vs 66 / 100 for Illinois Tool Works Inc.).
- Segment focus: Alcon Inc. has 2 segments (56% in Surgical); Illinois Tool Works Inc. has 7 segments (20% in Automotive OEM).
- Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: Alcon Inc. has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Illinois Tool Works Inc. has 8 across 3.
Primary market context
Alcon Inc.
Surgical
Ophthalmic surgical devices (implantables, consumables, equipment) and related service/training
Global
Ophthalmic surgeons, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, group purchasing organizations
Medical device OEM with direct service, clinical support, and training
56%
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Automotive OEM
Automotive OEM engineered components and fasteners
Global
Automotive OEMs and Tier suppliers
Component supplier
20%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
Alcon Inc. strengths
Illinois Tool Works Inc. strengths
Segment mix
Alcon Inc. segments
Full profile >Surgical
Oligopoly
Vision Care
Oligopoly
Illinois Tool Works Inc. segments
Full profile >Automotive OEM
Competitive
Food Equipment
Oligopoly
Test & Measurement and Electronics
Oligopoly
Welding
Oligopoly
Polymers & Fluids
Competitive
Construction Products
Competitive
Specialty Products
Oligopoly
Want the full wide moat stocks list?
Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.
View the moat stocks listLooking for expansion-stage stocks?
Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.
View expansion-stage stocksCuration & 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.