VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

Intertek Group plc vs Ulta Beauty, Inc.

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

Intertek Group plc

ITRK · London Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$7.1B
Gross margin (TTM)16.9%
Operating margin (TTM)16.9%
Net margin (TTM)9.9%
SectorIndustrials
IndustrySpecialty Business Services
CountryGB
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
64/ 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 Intertek Group plc's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View ITRK analysis

Ulta Beauty, Inc.

ULTA · NASDAQ

Market cap (USD)$29.9B
Gross margin (TTM)39.2%
Operating margin (TTM)13.2%
Net margin (TTM)9.9%
SectorConsumer
IndustrySpecialty Retail
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-06
Moat score
58/ 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 Ulta Beauty, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View ULTA analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Intertek Group plc leads (64 / 100 vs 58 / 100 for Ulta Beauty, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Intertek Group plc has 5 segments (28.3% in Consumer Products); Ulta Beauty, Inc. has 3 segments (94% in Beauty Products Retail).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Intertek Group plc has 6 moat types across 3 domains; Ulta Beauty, Inc. has 8 across 5.

Primary market context

Intertek Group plc

Consumer Products

Market

Consumer products testing, inspection and certification (TIC/ATIC) services

Geography

Global

Customer

Brands, retailers, manufacturers

Role

Third-party conformity assessment and supply chain QA

Revenue share

28.3%

Ulta Beauty, Inc.

Beauty Products Retail

Market

U.S. beauty products retail (specialty omnichannel beauty retailer)

Geography

United States

Customer

Consumers (end-users) shopping in-store and online

Role

Specialty retailer / distributor

Revenue share

94%

Side-by-side metrics

Intertek Group plc
Ulta Beauty, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
ITRK - London Stock Exchange
ULTA - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$7.1B
$29.9B
Gross margin (TTM)
16.9%
39.2%
Operating margin (TTM)
16.9%
13.2%
Net margin (TTM)
9.9%
9.9%
Sector
Industrials
Consumer
Industry
Specialty Business Services
Specialty Retail
HQ country
GB
US
Primary segment
Consumer Products
Beauty Products Retail
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
8%-10% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Moderate
Moat score
64 / 100
58 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand, Legal
Demand, Supply, Legal, Network, Financial
Last update
2025-12-28
2026-01-06

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Suite Bundling

Intertek Group plc strengths

Service Field NetworkData Workflow LockinBrand TrustCompliance AdvantageDesign In Qualification

Ulta Beauty, Inc. strengths

Switching Costs GeneralPhysical Network DensityContractual ExclusivityPreferential Input AccessData Network EffectsTwo Sided NetworkFloat Prepayment

Segment mix

Intertek Group plc segments

Full profile >

Consumer Products

Oligopoly

28.3%

Corporate Assurance

Competitive

14.6%

Health and Safety

Competitive

9.9%

Industry and Infrastructure

Competitive

24.9%

World of Energy

Oligopoly

22.3%

Ulta Beauty, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Beauty Products Retail

Competitive

94%

Beauty Services

Competitive

4%

Platform Monetization (Retail Media, Credit Cards, Partner Royalties, Deferred Revenue)

Competitive

2%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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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.