VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Saturday, January 3, 2026

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Stock Comparison

W.W. Grainger, Inc. vs Novartis AG

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

W.W. Grainger, Inc.

GWW · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$48.1B
Gross margin (TTM)39.1%
Operating margin (TTM)14.1%
Net margin (TTM)9.8%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryIndustrial - Distribution
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-01
Moat score
65/ 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 W.W. Grainger, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View GWW analysis

Novartis AG

NOVN · SIX Swiss Exchange

Market cap (USD)—
Gross margin (TTM)—
Operating margin (TTM)—
Net margin (TTM)—
SectorHealthcare
Industry—
CountryCH
Data as of2026-01-02
Moat score
65/ 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 Novartis AG's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View NOVN analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score: both at 65 / 100.
  • Segment focus: W.W. Grainger, Inc. has 3 segments (79.9% in High-Touch Solutions N.A.); Novartis AG has 5 segments (29.3% in Oncology).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: W.W. Grainger, Inc. has 5 moat types across 2 domains; Novartis AG has 4 across 3.

Primary market context

W.W. Grainger, Inc.

High-Touch Solutions N.A.

Market

MRO (maintenance, repair and operations) products distribution and value-added inventory/procurement solutions

Geography

North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico)

Customer

Mid-size and large businesses with complex purchasing operations; also government and institutions

Role

Distributor / wholesaler + onsite inventory services

Revenue share

79.9%

Novartis AG

Oncology

Market

Oncology and hematology branded medicines (including targeted therapies and radioligand therapy)

Geography

Global

Customer

Oncologists and hospitals; reimbursed by payers; hospital and specialty pharmacy channels

Role

Originator developer, manufacturer, and marketer of oncology therapies

Revenue share

29.3%

Side-by-side metrics

W.W. Grainger, Inc.
Novartis AG
Ticker / Exchange
GWW - New York Stock Exchange
NOVN - SIX Swiss Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$48.1B
n/a
Gross margin (TTM)
39.1%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
14.1%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
9.8%
n/a
Sector
Industrials
Healthcare
Industry
Industrial - Distribution
n/a
HQ country
US
CH
Primary segment
High-Touch Solutions N.A.
Oncology
Market structure
Competitive
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
65 / 100
65 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand
Legal, Supply, Demand
Last update
2026-01-01
2026-01-02

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

W.W. Grainger, Inc. strengths

Service Field NetworkData Workflow LockinScale Economies Unit CostScope EconomiesOperational Excellence

Novartis AG strengths

IP Choke PointRegulated Standards PipeCapex Knowhow ScaleBrand Trust

Segment mix

W.W. Grainger, Inc. segments

Full profile >

High-Touch Solutions N.A.

Competitive

79.9%

Endless Assortment

Competitive

18.3%

Other (Cromwell U.K. + captive insurance)

Competitive

1.8%

Novartis AG segments

Full profile >

Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic

Oligopoly

17%

Immunology

Oligopoly

18.5%

Neuroscience

Oligopoly

9.4%

Oncology

Oligopoly

29.3%

Established Brands

Competitive

25.8%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.

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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.