VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Stock Comparison

Auto Trader Group plc vs British American Tobacco p.l.c.

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

British American Tobacco p.l.c.

BATS · London Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$88.2B
Gross margin (TTM)73.3%
Operating margin (TTM)-24.7%
Net margin (TTM)-20.8%
SectorConsumer
IndustryTobacco
CountryGB
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
71/ 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 British American Tobacco p.l.c.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View BATS analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Auto Trader Group plc leads (96 / 100 vs 71 / 100 for British American Tobacco p.l.c.).
  • Segment focus: Auto Trader Group plc has 2 segments (93.3% in Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)); British American Tobacco p.l.c. has 6 segments (80% in Combustibles).
  • Primary market structure: Quasi-Monopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Strong vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: Auto Trader Group plc has 4 moat types across 2 domains; British American Tobacco p.l.c. has 6 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%

British American Tobacco p.l.c.

Combustibles

Market

Combustible tobacco (cigarettes and other combustible products)

Geography

Global

Customer

Adult nicotine consumers via retail/wholesale channels

Role

Manufacturer / brand owner

Revenue share

80%

Side-by-side metrics

Auto Trader Group plc
British American Tobacco p.l.c.
Ticker / Exchange
AUTO - London Stock Exchange
BATS - London Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$88.2B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
73.3%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
-24.7%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
-20.8%
Sector
Communication Services
Consumer
Industry
n/a
Tobacco
HQ country
GB
GB
Primary segment
Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)
Combustibles
Market structure
Quasi-Monopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
75%-80% (reported)
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Strong
Moat score
96 / 100
71 / 100
Moat domains
Network, Demand
Demand, Supply, Legal
Last update
2026-01-10
2025-12-30

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

Auto Trader Group plc strengths

Two Sided NetworkData Workflow LockinHabit DefaultEcosystem Complements

British American Tobacco p.l.c. strengths

Brand TrustDistribution ControlCompliance AdvantageInstalled Base ConsumablesOperational ExcellenceCapability adjacency

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%

British American Tobacco p.l.c. segments

Full profile >

Combustibles

Oligopoly

80%

Vapour

Competitive

6.7%

Heated Products

Oligopoly

3.6%

Modern Oral

Oligopoly

3.1%

Traditional Oral

Oligopoly

4.2%

Other

Competitive

2.5%

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.