VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Stock Comparison

Graco Inc. vs Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.

Graco Inc.

GGG · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$13.8B
Gross margin (TTM)52.3%
Operating margin (TTM)26.6%
Net margin (TTM)22.7%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryIndustrial - Machinery
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-05
Moat score
67/ 100

Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.

Full stock profile

Dive deeper into Graco Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View GGG analysis

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

ITW · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$73.1B
Gross margin (TTM)43.6%
Operating margin (TTM)26.2%
Net margin (TTM)19.1%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryIndustrial - Machinery
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
66/ 100

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 analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Graco Inc. leads (67 / 100 vs 66 / 100 for Illinois Tool Works Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Graco Inc. has 3 segments (49.4% in Contractor); Illinois Tool Works Inc. has 7 segments (20% in Automotive OEM).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Graco Inc. has 7 moat types across 2 domains; Illinois Tool Works Inc. has 8 across 3.

Primary market context

Graco Inc.

Contractor

Market

Professional and prosumer paint/coatings application equipment (airless sprayers, texture sprayers, line stripers, plural-component proportioners)

Geography

Global

Customer

Professional contractors and trades; DIY consumers via retail channels

Role

Equipment OEM / brand owner

Revenue share

49.4%

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Automotive OEM

Market

Automotive OEM engineered components and fasteners

Geography

Global

Customer

Automotive OEMs and Tier suppliers

Role

Component supplier

Revenue share

20%

Side-by-side metrics

Graco Inc.
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
GGG - New York Stock Exchange
ITW - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$13.8B
$73.1B
Gross margin (TTM)
52.3%
43.6%
Operating margin (TTM)
26.6%
26.2%
Net margin (TTM)
22.7%
19.1%
Sector
Industrials
Industrials
Industry
Industrial - Machinery
Industrial - Machinery
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Contractor
Automotive OEM
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
67 / 100
66 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Demand, Supply, Legal
Last update
2026-01-05
2025-12-31

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand TrustOperational ExcellenceService Field NetworkDesign In QualificationInstalled Base Consumables

Graco Inc. strengths

Distribution ControlScope Economies

Illinois Tool Works Inc. strengths

Switching Costs GeneralFormulation and application engineering know-howIP Choke Point

Segment mix

Graco Inc. segments

Full profile >

Contractor

Oligopoly

49.4%

Industrial

Oligopoly

43.1%

Expansion Markets

Competitive

7.5%

Illinois Tool Works Inc. segments

Full profile >

Automotive OEM

Competitive

20%

Food Equipment

Oligopoly

16.6%

Test & Measurement and Electronics

Oligopoly

17.7%

Welding

Oligopoly

11.6%

Polymers & Fluids

Competitive

11.1%

Construction Products

Competitive

12%

Specialty Products

Oligopoly

10.9%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.

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Curation & 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.