VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Stock Comparison

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. vs West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

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

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

BRK.B · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)
SectorFinancials
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
64/ 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 Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View BRK.B analysis

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

WST · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)
SectorHealthcare
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-22
Moat score
85/ 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 West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View WST analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. leads (85 / 100 vs 64 / 100 for Berkshire Hathaway Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Berkshire Hathaway Inc. has 11 segments (28.3% in Insurance (underwriting + investment income)); West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has 2 segments (80.7% in Proprietary Products).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: n/a vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Berkshire Hathaway Inc. has 17 moat types across 4 domains; West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has 5 across 3.

Primary market context

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Insurance (underwriting + investment income)

Market

Insurance and reinsurance (property and casualty + life/health), including float-funded investing

Geography

Global

Customer

Consumers and businesses (policyholders) and insurers (reinsurance cedents)

Role

Underwriter and reinsurer plus investment manager of float

Revenue share

28.3%

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

Proprietary Products

Market

Injectable primary packaging components and containment/delivery systems (elastomeric stoppers, seals, plungers, syringe/cartridge components; related services)

Geography

Global

Customer

Biologic, generic, and pharmaceutical drug manufacturers

Role

Primary packaging and delivery component supplier

Revenue share

80.7%

Side-by-side metrics

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
BRK.B - New York Stock Exchange
WST - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
n/a
n/a
Sector
Financials
Healthcare
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Insurance (underwriting + investment income)
Proprietary Products
Market structure
Competitive
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
n/a
70%-75% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
n/a
Moderate
Moat score
64 / 100
85 / 100
Moat domains
Financial, Supply, Demand, Legal
Demand, Legal, Supply
Last update
2025-12-30
2025-12-22

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Brand TrustDesign In QualificationCapex Knowhow Scale

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. strengths

Float PrepaymentCapacity MoatPhysical Network DensityLong Term ContractsConcession LicensePermits Rights Of WayIP Choke PointScale Economies Unit CostDistribution ControlTraining Org Change CostsPreferential Input AccessService Field NetworkScope EconomiesCost Of Capital Advantage

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. strengths

Compliance AdvantageOperational Excellence

Segment mix

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. segments

Full profile >

Insurance (underwriting + investment income)

Competitive

28.3%

BNSF Railway (freight rail transportation)

Oligopoly

6.4%

Berkshire Hathaway Energy (regulated utilities, pipelines, renewables)

Monopoly

7.1%

Industrial products manufacturing (PCC, Lubrizol, IMC, Marmon, etc.)

Oligopoly

9.7%

Building products & housing (Clayton Homes, Shaw, Johns Manville, Benjamin Moore, etc.)

Competitive

7.2%

Consumer products manufacturing (Duracell, Forest River, apparel/footwear, toys, etc.)

Competitive

4%

Service businesses (FlightSafety, NetJets, TTI, Dairy Queen, etc.)

Competitive

5.6%

Retailing businesses (Berkshire Hathaway Automotive, home furnishings, jewelry, See's, etc.)

Competitive

5.2%

Pilot Travel Centers (travel centers + wholesale fuel marketing)

Oligopoly

12.6%

McLane (wholesale distribution to convenience stores and restaurants)

Oligopoly

14%

Holding company capital allocation and investing

Competitive

n/a

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Proprietary Products

Quasi-Monopoly

80.7%

Contract-Manufactured Products

Competitive

19.3%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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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.