Generally speaking, retail can be a difficult industry to operate in. There's a lot of competition, margins are tight, and the barriers to entry are low. However, there are outliers -- companies that successfully built competitive advantages over time. And those moats make them more compelling as potential investment ideas. 

Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO) and Lowe's (NYSE: LOW) are two companies that have stood the test of time and have been market-beating investments for shareholders. Both would be fine choices for investors to add to their portfolios today. But which is the better buy?

Depending on where you live, you may not have ever seen a Tractor Supply store. The company is deliberate when selecting store locations, picking more rural areas rather than urban settings.

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Source Fool.com