Does APTIV PLC have an economic moat?

Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores APTIV PLC (APTV) 38.4 out of 100 — below the Shallow-moat bar, so no moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 24, returns on capital 62, balance-sheet safety 22, capital discipline 40.

Is APTV stock trading below its intrinsic value?

Against a deliberately conservative owner-earnings model (9% discount rate, 0% assumed growth, capped at 4%), estimated intrinsic value is $39.27 per share versus a recent price of $57.47 — 46% above value. This is an educational estimate computed from primary SEC filings, not investment advice.

How has APTV's Moat Score changed over time?

The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 38.4 out of 100 (no moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

The Moat Index

APTIV PLC

APTV · Consumer Discretionary · $12.2B mkt cap · FY2025 filings · No moat ·

Doesn't clear the bar

No moat

The four filters

Pricing power24

Median gross margin 18.6% over 10y, stable.

Returns on capital62

Median ROIC 12.9%, above the 9% hurdle in 80% of years.

Balance-sheet safety22

Net debt/EBITDA 2.6x, interest coverage 3x.

Capital discipline40

Owner earnings -9.7%/yr, share count shrinking (buybacks).

Margin of safety

Above valueOn sale

46% above value

Owner earnings (normalized): $752.0M
Est. intrinsic value / share: $39.27
Recent price: $57.47
Discount to value: 46% above value

Conservative model: 9% discount rate, 0% assumed growth (capped at 4%), maintenance capex ≈ min(capex, D&A).

17 years of fundamentals

The business, in plain English

APTIV PLC booked $20.4B of revenue in FY2025 in the Consumer Discretionary sector and kept 19.1% of it as gross profit — a moderate-margin business by that measure. After every other cost, 0.8% of each revenue dollar reached the bottom line.

Across the filed record, revenue grew from $13.8B (FY2010) to $20.4B (FY2025) — about 2.6% a year compounded over 15 years.

It earned 5.2% on invested capital in FY2025, with a median of 18.8% across 16 filed years. The Returns on Capital filter above scores it 62/100.

The balance sheet carried $7.6B of total debt in FY2025 against $500.0M of owner earnings — roughly 15.1 years of owner earnings to retire it all. Balance-Sheet Safety scores it 22/100.

The share count fell 35.2% between FY2011 and FY2025 — management has been retiring shares, which concentrates each remaining owner's claim. Capital Discipline scores it 40/100.

Put together: Returns on Capital is the strongest of the four filters (62/100) and Balance-Sheet Safety the weakest (22/100), which is how APTV lands at 38/100 — a None moat.

This breakdown is generated from the filed numbers and sub-scores above — no outside narrative, no estimates. Where a filing doesn’t disclose an input, the sentence that would need it is omitted instead of guessed.

RevenueSales, as filed$20.4B FY2025

Gross marginRevenue kept after cost of goods19.1% FY2025

Return on invested capitalOperating profit on the capital employed5.2% FY2025

Owner earningsCash an owner could take out$500.0M FY2025

Gaps in a line mean that item isn’t in APTV’s filings for that year — the series is never interpolated or estimated. The Table view lists every filed value, including operating and net margins, total debt, and share count.

Moat Score history

Moat Score over timeLast scored reading of each day, on the 0–100 scale38.4 / 100

Score history begins Jul 17, 2026 — the record builds from here and can’t be backfilled.

Tier changesSame-methodology crossings of the Wide / Narrow / Shallow bars

None yet — APTV has read No moat for every logged capture since Jul 17, 2026.

Scores are logged append-only and never overwritten — this record can’t be backfilled, which is exactly why it’s worth keeping.

Consumer Discretionary context

#223 of 340 scored Consumer Discretionary companies, ranked by Moat Score.

Nearest peers by Moat Score

#221VSEC VSE CORPORATION38.8 out of 100, No moatNo moat
#222VNCE VINCE HOLDING CORP.38.6 out of 100, No moatNo moat
#224LVLU Lulu's Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc.38.3 out of 100, No moatNo moat
#225QVCAQ QVC GROUP, INC.38.2 out of 100, No moatNo moat

Compare APTV with its nearest peers →All Consumer Discretionary companies on the Index →

Common questions about APTV

Does APTIV PLC have an economic moat?: Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores APTIV PLC (APTV) 38.4 out of 100 — below the Shallow-moat bar, so no moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 24, returns on capital 62, balance-sheet safety 22, capital discipline 40.
Is APTV stock trading below its intrinsic value?: Against a deliberately conservative owner-earnings model (9% discount rate, 0% assumed growth, capped at 4%), estimated intrinsic value is $39.27 per share versus a recent price of $57.47 — 46% above value. This is an educational estimate computed from primary SEC filings, not investment advice.
How has APTV's Moat Score changed over time?: The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 38.4 out of 100 (no moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

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Scored from primary SEC filings via the public methodology. Educational only — not a recommendation to buy or sell APTV. See the disclaimer.