VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Stock Comparison
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. vs W.W. Grainger, Inc.
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
CDNS · NASDAQ
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into Cadence Design Systems, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View CDNS analysisW.W. Grainger, Inc.
GWW · 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 W.W. Grainger, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View GWW analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: Cadence Design Systems, Inc. leads (84 / 100 vs 65 / 100 for W.W. Grainger, Inc.).
- Segment focus: Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has 3 segments (71% in Core EDA); W.W. Grainger, Inc. has 3 segments (79.9% in High-Touch Solutions N.A.).
- Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has 8 moat types across 3 domains; W.W. Grainger, Inc. has 5 across 2.
Primary market context
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
Core EDA
Electronic design automation tools for semiconductor IC design and verification (digital, custom/analog, signoff, functional verification)
Global
Semiconductor designers (fabless and IDMs) and system companies with in-house silicon teams
Tool vendor / workflow platform
71%
W.W. Grainger, Inc.
High-Touch Solutions N.A.
MRO (maintenance, repair and operations) products distribution and value-added inventory/procurement solutions
North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico)
Mid-size and large businesses with complex purchasing operations; also government and institutions
Distributor / wholesaler + onsite inventory services
79.9%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. strengths
W.W. Grainger, Inc. strengths
Segment mix
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. segments
Full profile >Core EDA
Oligopoly
Semiconductor IP
Oligopoly
System Design and Analysis
Competitive
W.W. Grainger, Inc. segments
Full profile >High-Touch Solutions N.A.
Competitive
Endless Assortment
Competitive
Other (Cromwell U.K. + captive insurance)
Competitive
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View the moat stocks listCuration & 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.