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The $45B Distributor That Amazon Couldn't Kill (Yet?)
In 2017, leadership made a bet: transform the company before Amazon forced them to. It worked. Industrial distributor W.W. Grainger, selling everything from safety gloves to conveyor belts, has grown revenue 34% to $17.5B while defending against Amazon Business's $25B assault.
Mosaic's Ride on the Commodity Roller Coaster
The company has built a huge business by owning assets that are nearly impossible to replicate. But the company is a glaring example of cyclicality. Their revenue went from $12B to $19B to $13B in three years. Here's how they attempt to build competitive advantages while riding the commodity price rollercoaster. And I touch on their controversial push to impose duties on others.
Target's Revenue Has Stagnated: How Strong Positioning Can't Save You From Everything
Four straight quarters of sales declines. Revenue sliding from $109B to $106B. Customers fleeing discretionary spending for experiences. Yet Target's brand positioning remains one of retail's strongest moats. Inside the company that proves great strategy isn't always enough
The Company That Generates $1.19 for Every $1 of Profit
Church & Dwight's 119% free cash flow conversion really stands out. This 178-year-old baking soda company now generates $6.1B annually by spending just 2% on capital (vs 5% for competitors) while maintaining 45%+ gross margins. Plus: why their brand extension strategy works when everyone else's fails.
The Bus Insurance Startup That Built a $26 Billion Empire (By Serving Customers Nobody Wanted)
While competitors fight over car insurance scraps, Markel quietly built a Fortune 500 company insuring things like thoroughbred horses and marina operators. But here's where it gets weird: they also own 21 random businesses and manage a $34B investment portfolio.
