VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Stock Comparison
The Hershey Company vs Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
The Hershey Company
HSY · 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 The Hershey Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View HSY 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: The Hershey Company leads (75 / 100 vs 66 / 100 for Illinois Tool Works Inc.).
- Segment focus: The Hershey Company has 3 segments (81.4% in North America Confectionery); Illinois Tool Works Inc. has 7 segments (20% in Automotive OEM).
- Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: The Hershey Company has 4 moat types across 2 domains; Illinois Tool Works Inc. has 8 across 3.
Primary market context
The Hershey Company
North America Confectionery
Branded chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery
United States and Canada
Retail consumers via grocery, mass, club and convenience
Branded manufacturer and marketer
81.4%
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
The Hershey Company strengths
Illinois Tool Works Inc. strengths
Segment mix
The Hershey Company segments
Full profile >North America Confectionery
Oligopoly
North America Salty Snacks
Oligopoly
International
Competitive
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
Want the full wide moat stocks list?
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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.