VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Sunday, January 11, 2026
Stock Comparison
Auto Trader Group plc vs Illinois Tool Works 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
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 analysisIllinois Tool Works Inc.
ITW · New York Stock Exchange
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into Illinois Tool Works Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View ITW analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: Auto Trader Group plc leads (96 / 100 vs 66 / 100 for Illinois Tool Works Inc.).
- Segment focus: Auto Trader Group plc has 2 segments (93.3% in Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)); Illinois Tool Works Inc. has 7 segments (20% in Automotive OEM).
- 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; Illinois Tool Works Inc. has 8 across 3.
Primary market context
Auto Trader Group plc
Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)
UK digital automotive marketplace (new & used) with retailer advertising/data products
United Kingdom
Consumers, vehicle retailers, OEMs/advertising agencies
Two-sided marketplace + advertising/data & workflow tools
93.3%
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Automotive OEM
Automotive OEM engineered components and fasteners
Global
Automotive OEMs and Tier suppliers
Component supplier
20%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
No overlap yet.
Auto Trader Group plc strengths
Illinois Tool Works Inc. strengths
Segment mix
Auto Trader Group plc segments
Full profile >Autotrader (UK automotive marketplace & data platform)
Quasi-Monopoly
Autorama (vehicle leasing marketplace)
Competitive
Illinois Tool Works Inc. segments
Full profile >Automotive OEM
Competitive
Food Equipment
Oligopoly
Test & Measurement and Electronics
Oligopoly
Welding
Oligopoly
Polymers & Fluids
Competitive
Construction Products
Competitive
Specialty Products
Oligopoly
Want the full wide moat stocks list?
Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.
View the moat stocks listLooking for expansion-stage stocks?
Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.
View expansion-stage stocksCuration & 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.