MoatLens does not make the decision for you — it makes it traceable. This guide shows the path experienced users take through the app. Budget ten to twenty minutes for a company you don't know yet.
Type the company name into the search field, not just the symbol. MoatLens covers the major European and American exchanges. If the same company is listed on several exchanges, pick the home listing — the data is most complete there.
The MoatLens Score summarises eight quality factors. It does not tell you whether to buy — it tells you how strong the business looks in the numbers. A low score is not a rejection, it is an invitation to look closer. A high score is not a free pass.
The real value sits one level down. Tap each of the eight factors: you see which metric is behind it, how it is calculated and what counts as solid. Do that three or four times and you will read every balance sheet differently afterwards.
Switch to the trend view. The decisive question is not “how high is the margin?” but “where has it been heading for ten years?”. Rising margins with rising revenue is a different picture from rising margins with shrinking revenue. Watch free cash flow in particular — it is the hardest number to dress up.
This view answers a question many investors never ask: has my slice grown or shrunk over the years? A falling share count means your stake grows without you doing anything. A rising count means dilution — your piece of the pie gets smaller.
The AI summary describes the business model, capital allocation, competitive advantage and risks. It does not judge, and it deliberately never sees the price. Use it as an entry point, not a replacement: whatever stands out, check it in the original filing.
The investment journal is the least popular and most valuable part. Write down in three sentences why you find this company interesting and what would have to happen for you to change your mind. In two years that note is worth more than any chart, because you can check whether your reasoning still holds.
The score describes the quality of the business. It says nothing about the price. An outstanding company can be a poor investment if too much is paid for it — and no app takes that judgement off your hands.
A high ROE with high debt is something entirely different from a high ROE without debt. Metrics only form a picture together — which is why MoatLens shows them side by side.
The portfolio check is convenient, but the bigger insight lies in comparison. Analyse three companies from the same industry back to back — the differences will jump out at you.
