VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Stock Comparison
Costco Wholesale Corporation vs Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
Costco Wholesale Corporation
COST · Nasdaq Global Select Market
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into Costco Wholesale Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View COST 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: Costco Wholesale Corporation leads (80 / 100 vs 66 / 100 for Illinois Tool Works Inc.).
- Segment focus: Costco Wholesale Corporation has 2 segments (98.1% in Warehouse club retail); Illinois Tool Works Inc. has 7 segments (20% in Automotive OEM).
- Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Weak vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: Costco Wholesale Corporation has 6 moat types across 3 domains; Illinois Tool Works Inc. has 8 across 3.
Primary market context
Costco Wholesale Corporation
Warehouse club retail
Membership warehouse club retail (warehouse clubs, ancillary services, and e-commerce)
Global
Households and small businesses
Retailer (membership club)
98.1%
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
Costco Wholesale Corporation strengths
Illinois Tool Works Inc. strengths
Segment mix
Costco Wholesale Corporation segments
Full profile >Warehouse club retail
Oligopoly
Membership fees (subscription)
Oligopoly
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.