VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Stock Comparison

Illinois Tool Works Inc. vs Symrise AG

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

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

ITW · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)
SectorIndustrials
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

Symrise AG

SY1 · Xetra

Market cap (USD)$14.5B
SectorMaterials
CountryDE
Data as of2025-12-29
Moat score
69/ 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 Symrise AG's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View SY1 analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Symrise AG leads (69 / 100 vs 66 / 100 for Illinois Tool Works Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Illinois Tool Works Inc. has 7 segments (20% in Automotive OEM); Symrise AG has 2 segments (61.8% in Taste, Nutrition & Health).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Illinois Tool Works Inc. has 8 moat types across 3 domains; Symrise AG has 5 across 3.

Primary market context

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%

Symrise AG

Taste, Nutrition & Health

Market

Food & beverage flavor ingredients and pet food ingredients

Geography

Global

Customer

B2B (food & beverage, pet food, aquafeed manufacturers)

Role

Ingredient/formulation supplier

Revenue share

61.8%

Side-by-side metrics

Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Symrise AG
Ticker / Exchange
ITW - New York Stock Exchange
SY1 - Xetra
Market cap (USD)
n/a
$14.5B
Sector
Industrials
Materials
HQ country
US
DE
Primary segment
Automotive OEM
Taste, Nutrition & Health
Market structure
Competitive
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
12%-16% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
958
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
66 / 100
69 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Demand, Supply, Legal
Last update
2025-12-31
2025-12-29

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Design In QualificationIP Choke Point

Illinois Tool Works Inc. strengths

Operational ExcellenceBrand TrustService Field NetworkInstalled Base ConsumablesSwitching Costs GeneralFormulation and application engineering know-how

Symrise AG strengths

Preferential Input AccessScope EconomiesCapex Knowhow Scale

Segment mix

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%

Symrise AG segments

Full profile >

Taste, Nutrition & Health

Oligopoly

61.8%

Scent & Care

Oligopoly

38.2%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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

View the moat stocks list

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.