VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. vs Philip Morris International Inc.

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

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.

ATD · Toronto Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$70.7B
Gross margin (TTM)18.5%
Operating margin (TTM)5.3%
Net margin (TTM)3.6%
SectorConsumer
IndustrySpecialty Retail
CountryCA
Data as of2026-01-05
Moat score
58/ 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 Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View ATD analysis

Philip Morris International Inc.

PM · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$248.8B
Gross margin (TTM)66.3%
Operating margin (TTM)37.7%
Net margin (TTM)21.6%
SectorConsumer
IndustryTobacco
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
84/ 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 Philip Morris International Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View PM analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Philip Morris International Inc. leads (84 / 100 vs 58 / 100 for Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. has 3 segments (74% in Road transportation fuel (retail fuel and related mobility services)); Philip Morris International Inc. has 3 segments (61.3% in Combustible Tobacco).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Weak vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. has 5 moat types across 2 domains; Philip Morris International Inc. has 6 across 3.

Primary market context

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.

Road transportation fuel (retail fuel and related mobility services)

Market

Road transportation fuel retail (gasoline/diesel) at convenience sites; includes unmanned/automated fuel stations

Geography

North America and Europe (plus select other regions via the network)

Customer

Consumers and small fleets

Role

Fuel retailer and site operator

Revenue share

74%

Philip Morris International Inc.

Combustible Tobacco

Market

International combustible tobacco (primarily cigarettes)

Geography

Global (primarily ex-U.S.)

Customer

Adult smokers; distributors/wholesalers and retail channels

Role

Branded manufacturer and distributor

Revenue share

61.3%

Side-by-side metrics

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.
Philip Morris International Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
ATD - Toronto Stock Exchange
PM - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$70.7B
$248.8B
Gross margin (TTM)
18.5%
66.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
5.3%
37.7%
Net margin (TTM)
3.6%
21.6%
Sector
Consumer
Consumer
Industry
Specialty Retail
Tobacco
HQ country
CA
US
Primary segment
Road transportation fuel (retail fuel and related mobility services)
Combustible Tobacco
Market structure
Competitive
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
25.3% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Weak
Strong
Moat score
58 / 100
84 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand
Demand, Supply, Legal
Last update
2026-01-05
2025-12-31

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand Trust

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. strengths

Physical Network DensityOperational ExcellenceSupply Chain ControlScope Economies

Philip Morris International Inc. strengths

Distribution ControlCompliance AdvantageInstalled Base ConsumablesIP Choke PointRegulated Standards Pipe

Segment mix

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. segments

Full profile >

Merchandise and services (in-store convenience retail)

Competitive

25.2%

Road transportation fuel (retail fuel and related mobility services)

Competitive

74%

Other revenues (ancillary energy and other income streams)

Competitive

0.8%

Philip Morris International Inc. segments

Full profile >

Combustible Tobacco

Oligopoly

61.3%

Smoke-Free Products

Oligopoly

37.8%

Wellness & Healthcare

Competitive

0.9%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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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.