VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Stock Comparison

Auto Trader Group plc vs Fastenal 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

Fastenal Company

FAST · NASDAQ

Market cap (USD)$48.2B
Gross margin (TTM)45.2%
Operating margin (TTM)20.2%
Net margin (TTM)15.3%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryIndustrial - Distribution
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-06
Moat score
57/ 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 Fastenal Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View FAST analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Auto Trader Group plc leads (96 / 100 vs 57 / 100 for Fastenal Company).
  • Segment focus: Auto Trader Group plc has 2 segments (93.3% in Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)); Fastenal Company has 2 segments (55.7% in Core industrial & construction supplies distribution (branches, Onsite, eBusiness excl. FMI)).
  • Primary market structure: Quasi-Monopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Strong vs Weak.
  • Moat breadth: Auto Trader Group plc has 4 moat types across 2 domains; Fastenal 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%

Fastenal Company

Core industrial & construction supplies distribution (branches, Onsite, eBusiness excl. FMI)

Market

Wholesale distribution of industrial and construction supplies (fasteners, safety, tools, and other MRO/OEM consumables)

Geography

Primarily North America (with growing international presence)

Customer

Manufacturing (OEM and MRO), non-residential construction, and other commercial customers

Role

Distributor

Revenue share

55.7%

Side-by-side metrics

Auto Trader Group plc
Fastenal Company
Ticker / Exchange
AUTO - London Stock Exchange
FAST - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$48.2B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
45.2%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
20.2%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
15.3%
Sector
Communication Services
Industrials
Industry
n/a
Industrial - Distribution
HQ country
GB
US
Primary segment
Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)
Core industrial & construction supplies distribution (branches, Onsite, eBusiness excl. FMI)
Market structure
Quasi-Monopoly
Competitive
Market share
75%-80% (reported)
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Weak
Moat score
96 / 100
57 / 100
Moat domains
Network, Demand
Supply, Demand
Last update
2026-01-10
2026-01-06

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Data Workflow Lockin

Auto Trader Group plc strengths

Two Sided NetworkHabit DefaultEcosystem Complements

Fastenal Company strengths

Service Field NetworkProcurement InertiaOperational Excellence

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%

Fastenal Company segments

Full profile >

Fastenal Managed Inventory (FMI)

Competitive

44.3%

Core industrial & construction supplies distribution (branches, Onsite, eBusiness excl. FMI)

Competitive

55.7%

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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.