VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Stock Comparison

Auto Trader Group plc vs American Express Company

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

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

American Express Company

AXP · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$262.1B
Gross margin (TTM)83%
Operating margin (TTM)17.1%
Net margin (TTM)13.4%
SectorFinancials
IndustryFinancial - Credit Services
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
52/ 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 American Express Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View AXP analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Auto Trader Group plc leads (96 / 100 vs 52 / 100 for American Express Company).
  • Segment focus: Auto Trader Group plc has 2 segments (93.3% in Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)); American Express Company has 4 segments (47.5% in U.S. Consumer Services (USCS)).
  • Primary market structure: Quasi-Monopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Strong vs n/a.
  • Moat breadth: Auto Trader Group plc has 4 moat types across 2 domains; American Express Company has 8 across 3.

Primary market context

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%

American Express Company

U.S. Consumer Services (USCS)

Market

U.S. premium consumer card issuing (charge and credit) and attached consumer banking and financing

Geography

United States

Customer

Consumers

Role

Issuer (proprietary cards) and consumer lender/services

Revenue share

47.5%

Side-by-side metrics

Auto Trader Group plc
American Express Company
Ticker / Exchange
AUTO - London Stock Exchange
AXP - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$262.1B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
83%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
17.1%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
13.4%
Sector
Communication Services
Financials
Industry
n/a
Financial - Credit Services
HQ country
GB
US
Primary segment
Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)
U.S. Consumer Services (USCS)
Market structure
Quasi-Monopoly
Competitive
Market share
75%-80% (reported)
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
n/a
Moat score
96 / 100
52 / 100
Moat domains
Network, Demand
Demand, Financial, Network
Last update
2026-01-10
2025-12-30

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Two Sided NetworkEcosystem Complements

Auto Trader Group plc strengths

Data Workflow LockinHabit Default

American Express Company strengths

Brand TrustSwitching Costs GeneralLong Term ContractsCost Of Capital AdvantageTraining Org Change CostsData Network Effects

Segment mix

Auto Trader Group plc segments

Full profile >

Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)

Quasi-Monopoly

93.3%

Autorama (vehicle leasing marketplace)

Competitive

6.7%

American Express Company segments

Full profile >

U.S. Consumer Services (USCS)

Competitive

47.5%

Commercial Services (CS)

Competitive

23.9%

International Card Services (ICS)

Competitive

17.3%

Global Merchant and Network Services (GMNS)

Oligopoly

11.3%

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.