VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

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

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited

2330 · Taiwan Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$43.6T
Gross margin (TTM)59%
Operating margin (TTM)49.5%
Net margin (TTM)43.7%
SectorTechnology
IndustrySemiconductors
CountryTW
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
92/ 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 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View 2330 analysis

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

VRTX · NASDAQ

Market cap (USD)$119B
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorHealthcare
IndustryBiotechnology
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-08
Moat score
99/ 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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View VRTX analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated leads (99 / 100 vs 92 / 100 for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited).
  • Segment focus: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited has 3 segments (74% in Leading-edge Foundry (7nm and below)); Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 3 segments (99.9% in Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators).
  • Moat breadth: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited has 7 moat types across 4 domains; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 7 across 4.

Primary market context

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited

Leading-edge Foundry (7nm and below)

Market

Leading-edge semiconductor foundry services (<=7nm logic process technologies)

Geography

Global

Customer

Fabless semiconductor companies, system companies, and IDMs

Role

Dedicated foundry / contract manufacturer

Revenue share

74%

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators

Market

CFTR modulator therapies for cystic fibrosis

Geography

U.S., Europe, Australia, Canada

Customer

Patients (via specialty pharmacies/payers); CF care centers

Role

Drug developer/manufacturer

Revenue share

99.9%

Side-by-side metrics

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Ticker / Exchange
2330 - Taiwan Stock Exchange
VRTX - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$43.6T
$119B
Gross margin (TTM)
59%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
49.5%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
43.7%
n/a
Sector
Technology
Healthcare
Industry
Semiconductors
Biotechnology
HQ country
TW
US
Primary segment
Leading-edge Foundry (7nm and below)
Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators
Market structure
Quasi-Monopoly
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
70%-72% (reported)
70%-78% (reported)
HHI estimate
5,165
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Strong
Moat score
92 / 100
99 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Network, Demand, Financial
Legal, Demand, Financial, Supply
Last update
2025-12-28
2026-01-08

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Benchmark Pricing Power

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited strengths

Capex Knowhow ScaleEcosystem ComplementsDesign In QualificationScope EconomiesOperational ExcellenceKeystone Component

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated strengths

IP Choke PointGovernment Contracting RelationshipsSwitching Costs GeneralRegulated Standards PipeService Field NetworkCapacity Moat

Segment mix

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited segments

Full profile >

Leading-edge Foundry (7nm and below)

Quasi-Monopoly

74%

Mature & Specialty Foundry (16nm and above + specialty processes)

Oligopoly

26%

Advanced Packaging & 3DFabric (CoWoS, InFO, SoIC)

Oligopoly

n/a

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated segments

Full profile >

Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators

Quasi-Monopoly

99.9%

Hemoglobinopathies Gene Therapy (CASGEVY)

Oligopoly

0.1%

Acute Pain (JOURNAVX)

Competitive

n/a

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.

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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.