VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

W.W. Grainger, Inc. vs The Italian Sea Group S.p.A.

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)$49B
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

The Italian Sea Group S.p.A.

TISG · Euronext Milan (Borsa Italiana)

Market cap (USD)$241.7M
Gross margin (TTM)70.9%
Operating margin (TTM)12.1%
Net margin (TTM)3.8%
SectorConsumer
IndustryLeisure
CountryIT
Data as of2026-01-08
Moat score
61/ 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 The Italian Sea Group S.p.A.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View TISG analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: W.W. Grainger, Inc. leads (65 / 100 vs 61 / 100 for The Italian Sea Group S.p.A.).
  • Segment focus: W.W. Grainger, Inc. has 3 segments (79.9% in High-Touch Solutions N.A.); The Italian Sea Group S.p.A. has 2 segments (89.7% in Shipbuilding).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: W.W. Grainger, Inc. has 5 moat types across 2 domains; The Italian Sea Group S.p.A. has 5 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%

The Italian Sea Group S.p.A.

Shipbuilding

Market

Luxury yacht and superyacht shipbuilding (motor and sailing, 24m+ projects under construction/contract)

Geography

Global

Customer

Ultra-high-net-worth individuals (owners) and yacht brokers; occasional fleet/charter buyers

Role

Designer/shipyard (OEM) and brand owner

Revenue share

89.7%

Side-by-side metrics

W.W. Grainger, Inc.
The Italian Sea Group S.p.A.
Ticker / Exchange
GWW - New York Stock Exchange
TISG - Euronext Milan (Borsa Italiana)
Market cap (USD)
$49B
$241.7M
Gross margin (TTM)
39.1%
70.9%
Operating margin (TTM)
14.1%
12.1%
Net margin (TTM)
9.8%
3.8%
Sector
Industrials
Consumer
Industry
Industrial - Distribution
Leisure
HQ country
US
IT
Primary segment
High-Touch Solutions N.A.
Shipbuilding
Market structure
Competitive
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
1.8%-2.2% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
65 / 100
61 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand
Demand, Supply, Legal
Last update
2026-01-01
2026-01-08

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Operational Excellence

W.W. Grainger, Inc. strengths

Service Field NetworkData Workflow LockinScale Economies Unit CostScope Economies

The Italian Sea Group S.p.A. strengths

Brand TrustSupply Chain ControlConcession LicenseLong Term Contracts

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%

The Italian Sea Group S.p.A. segments

Full profile >

Shipbuilding

Oligopoly

89.7%

Refit

Competitive

10.3%

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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.