VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Stock Comparison

Auto Trader Group plc vs Intercontinental Exchange, 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

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

ICE · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$95.1B
Gross margin (TTM)55.4%
Operating margin (TTM)38.1%
Net margin (TTM)25.2%
SectorFinancials
IndustryFinancial - Data & Stock Exchanges
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
87/ 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 Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View ICE analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Auto Trader Group plc leads (96 / 100 vs 87 / 100 for Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Auto Trader Group plc has 2 segments (93.3% in Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)); Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. has 3 segments (53.4% in Exchanges).
  • 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; Intercontinental Exchange, 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%

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

Exchanges

Market

Derivatives, cash equities, and listings exchanges plus central clearing (CCP) services

Geography

Global

Customer

Market participants (banks, broker-dealers, asset managers, proprietary traders) and issuers

Role

Exchange operator + clearing house (CCP)

Revenue share

53.4%

Side-by-side metrics

Auto Trader Group plc
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
AUTO - London Stock Exchange
ICE - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$95.1B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
55.4%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
38.1%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
25.2%
Sector
Communication Services
Financials
Industry
n/a
Financial - Data & Stock Exchanges
HQ country
GB
US
Primary segment
Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)
Exchanges
Market structure
Quasi-Monopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
75%-80% (reported)
75% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Strong
Moat score
96 / 100
87 / 100
Moat domains
Network, Demand
Network, Legal, Demand, Supply
Last update
2026-01-10
2025-12-30

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Two Sided NetworkData Workflow Lockin

Auto Trader Group plc strengths

Habit DefaultEcosystem Complements

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. strengths

Clearing SettlementConcession LicenseBrand TrustData Network EffectsPhysical Network DensityInteroperability HubStandards RegistryCompliance Advantage

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%

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Exchanges

Oligopoly

53.4%

Fixed Income and Data Services

Oligopoly

24.8%

Mortgage Technology

Oligopoly

21.8%

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.