VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

Ambev S.A. vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

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

Ambev S.A.

ABEV3 · B3 - Brasil Bolsa Balcao

Market cap (USD)$217.4B
Gross margin (TTM)51.8%
Operating margin (TTM)26.5%
Net margin (TTM)17.7%
SectorConsumer
IndustryBeverages - Alcoholic
CountryBR
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
82/ 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 Ambev S.A.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View ABEV3 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 82 / 100 for Ambev S.A.).
  • Segment focus: Ambev S.A. has 5 segments (45% in Brazil - Beer); 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: Ambev S.A. has 3 moat types across 3 domains; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 7 across 4.

Primary market context

Ambev S.A.

Brazil - Beer

Market

Beer production and distribution

Geography

Brazil

Customer

On-trade and off-trade retailers; distributors

Role

Producer & distributor

Revenue share

45%

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

Ambev S.A.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Ticker / Exchange
ABEV3 - B3 - Brasil Bolsa Balcao
VRTX - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$217.4B
$119B
Gross margin (TTM)
51.8%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
26.5%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
17.7%
n/a
Sector
Consumer
Healthcare
Industry
Beverages - Alcoholic
Biotechnology
HQ country
BR
US
Primary segment
Brazil - Beer
Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators
Market structure
Oligopoly
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
55%-65% (estimated)
70%-78% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
82 / 100
99 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Legal, Demand, Financial, Supply
Last update
2025-12-28
2026-01-08

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

Ambev S.A. strengths

Brand TrustDistribution ControlContractual Exclusivity

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated strengths

IP Choke PointGovernment Contracting RelationshipsSwitching Costs GeneralBenchmark Pricing PowerRegulated Standards PipeService Field NetworkCapacity Moat

Segment mix

Ambev S.A. segments

Full profile >

Brazil - Beer

Oligopoly

45%

Brazil - Non-alcoholic beverages

Oligopoly

9.4%

Central America and the Caribbean

Oligopoly

12.3%

Latin America South

Oligopoly

22.2%

Canada

Oligopoly

11.2%

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.