VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Stock Comparison

Auto Trader Group plc vs Alphabet 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

Alphabet Inc.

GOOGL · The Nasdaq Stock Market

Market cap (USD)$4T
Gross margin (TTM)59.2%
Operating margin (TTM)32.2%
Net margin (TTM)32.2%
SectorCommunication Services
IndustryInternet Content & Information
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-21
Moat score
86/ 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 Alphabet Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View GOOGL analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Auto Trader Group plc leads (96 / 100 vs 86 / 100 for Alphabet Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Auto Trader Group plc has 2 segments (93.3% in Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)); Alphabet Inc. has 6 segments (56.6% in Google Search & other (Advertising)).
  • Moat breadth: Auto Trader Group plc has 4 moat types across 2 domains; Alphabet Inc. has 10 across 4.

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%

Alphabet Inc.

Google Search & other (Advertising)

Market

Search advertising (intent-based digital ads)

Geography

Global

Customer

Advertisers (SMB to enterprise)

Role

Ad platform / publisher

Revenue share

56.6%

Side-by-side metrics

Auto Trader Group plc
Alphabet Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
AUTO - London Stock Exchange
GOOGL - The Nasdaq Stock Market
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$4T
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
59.2%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
32.2%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
32.2%
Sector
Communication Services
Communication Services
Industry
n/a
Internet Content & Information
HQ country
GB
US
Primary segment
Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)
Google Search & other (Advertising)
Market structure
Quasi-Monopoly
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
75%-80% (reported)
88%-91% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
8,115
Pricing power
Strong
Strong
Moat score
96 / 100
86 / 100
Moat domains
Network, Demand
Network, Demand, Legal, Supply
Last update
2026-01-10
2025-12-21

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Two Sided NetworkHabit DefaultEcosystem Complements

Auto Trader Group plc strengths

Data Workflow Lockin

Alphabet Inc. strengths

Data Network EffectsContent Rights CurrencyOperational ExcellenceDefault OS GatewaySwitching Costs GeneralCapex Knowhow ScaleIncubation & patient capital

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%

Alphabet Inc. segments

Full profile >

Google Search & other (Advertising)

Quasi-Monopoly

56.6%

YouTube (Advertising)

Oligopoly

10.3%

Google Network (Advertising)

Competitive

8.7%

Google Subscriptions, Platforms & Devices

Quasi-Monopoly

11.5%

Google Cloud

Oligopoly

12.4%

Other Bets

Competitive

0.5%

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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Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

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.