VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Stock Comparison

Auto Trader Group plc vs Canadian National Railway 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

Canadian National Railway Company

CNR · Toronto Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$86.3B
Gross margin (TTM)48.8%
Operating margin (TTM)37.7%
Net margin (TTM)26.9%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryRailroads
CountryCA
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
97/ 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 Canadian National Railway Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View CNR analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Canadian National Railway Company leads (97 / 100 vs 96 / 100 for Auto Trader Group plc).
  • Segment focus: Auto Trader Group plc has 2 segments (93.3% in Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)); Canadian National Railway Company has 2 segments (96.2% in Rail freight transportation network).
  • Primary market structure: Quasi-Monopoly vs Duopoly. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Auto Trader Group plc has 4 moat types across 2 domains; Canadian National Railway Company has 4 across 2.

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%

Canadian National Railway Company

Rail freight transportation network

Market

Canadian Class I freight rail transportation

Geography

Canada (with U.S. cross-border corridors)

Customer

Industrial shippers, intermodal customers, and auto supply chains

Role

Line-haul freight railway (Class I)

Revenue share

96.2%

Side-by-side metrics

Auto Trader Group plc
Canadian National Railway Company
Ticker / Exchange
AUTO - London Stock Exchange
CNR - Toronto Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$86.3B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
48.8%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
37.7%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
26.9%
Sector
Communication Services
Industrials
Industry
n/a
Railroads
HQ country
GB
CA
Primary segment
Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)
Rail freight transportation network
Market structure
Quasi-Monopoly
Duopoly
Market share
75%-80% (reported)
50%-56% (estimated)
HHI estimate
n/a
4,031
Pricing power
Strong
Moderate
Moat score
96 / 100
97 / 100
Moat domains
Network, Demand
Legal, Supply
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

Canadian National Railway Company strengths

Permits Rights Of WayPhysical Network DensityScale Economies Unit CostScope Economies

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%

Canadian National Railway Company segments

Full profile >

Rail freight transportation network

Duopoly

96.2%

Non-rail logistics and ancillary services

Competitive

3.8%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.

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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.