VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Stock Comparison

Auto Trader Group plc vs Ferguson Enterprises Inc.

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

Ferguson Enterprises Inc.

FERG · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$46.7B
Gross margin (TTM)30.8%
Operating margin (TTM)8.7%
Net margin (TTM)6.3%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryIndustrial - Distribution
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-01
Moat score
72/ 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 Ferguson Enterprises Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View FERG analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Auto Trader Group plc leads (96 / 100 vs 72 / 100 for Ferguson Enterprises Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Auto Trader Group plc has 2 segments (93.3% in Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)); Ferguson Enterprises Inc. has 2 segments (95.1% in United States).
  • Primary market structure: Quasi-Monopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Auto Trader Group plc has 4 moat types across 2 domains; Ferguson Enterprises Inc. 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%

Ferguson Enterprises Inc.

United States

Market

Value-added distribution of plumbing, HVAC, PVF, waterworks and related products/services

Geography

United States

Customer

Residential and non-residential professional trade customers (contractors/builders) plus industrial and infrastructure customers

Role

Value-added distributor (B2B)

Revenue share

95.1%

Side-by-side metrics

Auto Trader Group plc
Ferguson Enterprises Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
AUTO - London Stock Exchange
FERG - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$46.7B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
30.8%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
8.7%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
6.3%
Sector
Communication Services
Industrials
Industry
n/a
Industrial - Distribution
HQ country
GB
US
Primary segment
Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)
United States
Market structure
Quasi-Monopoly
Competitive
Market share
75%-80% (reported)
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Moderate
Moat score
96 / 100
72 / 100
Moat domains
Network, Demand
Supply, Demand
Last update
2026-01-10
2026-01-01

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Data Workflow Lockin

Auto Trader Group plc strengths

Two Sided NetworkHabit DefaultEcosystem Complements

Ferguson Enterprises Inc. strengths

Physical 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%

Ferguson Enterprises Inc. segments

Full profile >

United States

Competitive

95.1%

Canada

Competitive

4.9%

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.