VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Stock Comparison
CME Group Inc. vs Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
CME Group Inc.
CME · 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 CME Group Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View CME 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: CME Group Inc. leads (81 / 100 vs 66 / 100 for Illinois Tool Works Inc.).
- Segment focus: CME Group Inc. has 3 segments (81.4% in Trading and Clearing (Derivatives + Cash Markets Platforms)); Illinois Tool Works Inc. has 7 segments (20% in Automotive OEM).
- Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: CME Group Inc. has 10 moat types across 5 domains; Illinois Tool Works Inc. has 8 across 3.
Primary market context
CME Group Inc.
Trading and Clearing (Derivatives + Cash Markets Platforms)
Exchange-traded derivatives (futures and options) trading and central counterparty clearing; plus electronic cash markets matching (U.S. Treasuries/repo, spot FX) tied to CME platforms
Global (core U.S. footprint with international participation)
Institutional and professional traders; commercial hedgers; banks; broker-dealers; futures commission merchants (FCMs); asset managers; proprietary trading firms; governments and central banks
Market operator (exchange/venue) + central counterparty clearing provider
81.4%
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
CME Group Inc. strengths
Illinois Tool Works Inc. strengths
Segment mix
CME Group Inc. segments
Full profile >Trading and Clearing (Derivatives + Cash Markets Platforms)
Oligopoly
Market Data and Information Services
Monopoly
Access, Connectivity and Other Exchange Services
Monopoly
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
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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.