VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

Unicharm Corporation vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

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

Unicharm Corporation

8113 · Tokyo Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$1.6T
Gross margin (TTM)38.5%
Operating margin (TTM)12.9%
Net margin (TTM)8.6%
SectorConsumer
IndustryHousehold & Personal Products
CountryJP
Data as of2025-12-29
Moat score
60/ 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 Unicharm Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View 8113 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 60 / 100 for Unicharm Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Unicharm Corporation has 5 segments; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 3 segments (99.9% in Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: Unicharm Corporation has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 7 across 4.

Primary market context

Unicharm Corporation

Baby and Child Care Products

Market

Disposable baby diapers and baby wipes

Geography

Japan, Asia, Middle East, and selected other markets

Customer

Consumers (parents/caregivers)

Role

Branded manufacturer

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

Unicharm Corporation
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Ticker / Exchange
8113 - Tokyo Stock Exchange
VRTX - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$1.6T
$119B
Gross margin (TTM)
38.5%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
12.9%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
8.6%
n/a
Sector
Consumer
Healthcare
Industry
Household & Personal Products
Biotechnology
HQ country
JP
US
Primary segment
Baby and Child Care Products
Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators
Market structure
Oligopoly
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
35%-84% (reported)
70%-78% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
60 / 100
99 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Legal, Demand, Financial, Supply
Last update
2025-12-29
2026-01-08

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

IP Choke Point

Unicharm Corporation strengths

Brand TrustDistribution ControlCapex Knowhow ScaleHabit DefaultTraining Org Change CostsOperational Excellence

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated strengths

Government Contracting RelationshipsSwitching Costs GeneralBenchmark Pricing PowerRegulated Standards PipeService Field NetworkCapacity Moat

Segment mix

Unicharm Corporation segments

Full profile >

Baby and Child Care Products

Oligopoly

n/a

Feminine Care Products

Oligopoly

n/a

Wellness Care Products (Adult Incontinence)

Oligopoly

n/a

Pet Care Products

Competitive

n/a

Industrial Materials and Other Businesses

Competitive

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.