VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Friday, January 2, 2026
Stock Comparison
Fastenal Company vs W.W. Grainger, Inc.
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
Fastenal Company
FAST · Nasdaq Stock 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 Fastenal Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View FAST 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: W.W. Grainger, Inc. leads (65 / 100 vs 60 / 100 for Fastenal Company).
- Segment focus: Fastenal Company has 3 segments (54.5% in Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)); W.W. Grainger, Inc. has 3 segments (79.9% in High-Touch Solutions N.A.).
- Primary market structure: Competitive vs Competitive. Pricing power: Weak vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: Fastenal Company has 5 moat types across 2 domains; W.W. Grainger, Inc. has 5 across 2.
Primary market context
Fastenal Company
Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)
Industrial & construction supplies distribution (MRO/OEM consumables) via local branches
North America (primary) + select international
B2B
Distributor / MRO supplier
54.5%
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
Fastenal Company strengths
W.W. Grainger, Inc. strengths
Segment mix
Fastenal Company segments
Full profile >Branch-based distribution (in-market branches)
Competitive
Onsite solutions (embedded customer locations)
Competitive
Other / non-traditional sales (services & custom manufacturing)
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.