VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Stock Comparison
AstraZeneca PLC vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
AstraZeneca PLC
AZN · London Stock Exchange
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into AstraZeneca PLC's moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View AZN analysisVertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
VRTX · NASDAQ
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 analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated leads (99 / 100 vs 71 / 100 for AstraZeneca PLC).
- Segment focus: AstraZeneca PLC has 6 segments (41% in Oncology); Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 3 segments (99.9% in Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators).
- Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Strong vs Strong.
- Moat breadth: AstraZeneca PLC has 4 moat types across 3 domains; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 7 across 4.
Primary market context
AstraZeneca PLC
Oncology
Innovator oncology therapeutics (branded prescription medicines)
Global
Hospitals, oncology clinics, payers
Innovator biopharmaceutical company
41%
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators
CFTR modulator therapies for cystic fibrosis
U.S., Europe, Australia, Canada
Patients (via specialty pharmacies/payers); CF care centers
Drug developer/manufacturer
99.9%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
AstraZeneca PLC strengths
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated strengths
Segment mix
AstraZeneca PLC segments
Full profile >Oncology
Oligopoly
Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM)
Competitive
Respiratory & Immunology (R&I)
Oligopoly
Vaccines & Immune Therapies (V&I)
Oligopoly
Rare Disease
Oligopoly
Other Medicines
Competitive
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated segments
Full profile >Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators
Quasi-Monopoly
Hemoglobinopathies Gene Therapy (CASGEVY)
Oligopoly
Acute Pain (JOURNAVX)
Competitive
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Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.
View expansion-stage stocksCuration & 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.