VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Stock Comparison

Casey's General Stores, Inc. vs Norfolk Southern Corporation

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

Casey's General Stores, Inc.

CASY · NASDAQ

Market cap (USD)$21B
Gross margin (TTM)23.4%
Operating margin (TTM)5.3%
Net margin (TTM)3.6%
SectorConsumer
IndustrySpecialty Retail
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-06
Moat score
54/ 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 Casey's General Stores, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View CASY analysis

Norfolk Southern Corporation

NSC · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$64.6B
Gross margin (TTM)34.1%
Operating margin (TTM)34.1%
Net margin (TTM)24.2%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryRailroads
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-02
Moat score
70/ 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 Norfolk Southern Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View NSC analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Norfolk Southern Corporation leads (70 / 100 vs 54 / 100 for Casey's General Stores, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Casey's General Stores, Inc. has 4 segments (61.3% in Fuel); Norfolk Southern Corporation has 3 segments (62% in Merchandise).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Weak vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Casey's General Stores, Inc. has 7 moat types across 2 domains; Norfolk Southern Corporation has 4 across 3.

Primary market context

Casey's General Stores, Inc.

Fuel

Market

Retail motor fuel sold through convenience-store fuel sites (gasoline and diesel)

Geography

United States (Casey's operating footprint; Midwest/South)

Customer

Motorists / consumers (in-store and pay-at-the-pump transactions)

Role

Fuel retailer (with some self-distribution/wholesale capabilities)

Revenue share

61.3%

Norfolk Southern Corporation

Merchandise

Market

Eastern U.S. freight rail transportation for industrial & consumer goods

Geography

United States (Southeast/East/Midwest; NS network + interchanges)

Customer

Manufacturers, producers, and distributors

Role

Rail carrier

Revenue share

62%

Side-by-side metrics

Casey's General Stores, Inc.
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
CASY - NASDAQ
NSC - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$21B
$64.6B
Gross margin (TTM)
23.4%
34.1%
Operating margin (TTM)
5.3%
34.1%
Net margin (TTM)
3.6%
24.2%
Sector
Consumer
Industrials
Industry
Specialty Retail
Railroads
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Fuel
Merchandise
Market structure
Competitive
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Weak
Moderate
Moat score
54 / 100
70 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Supply, Legal, Demand
Last update
2026-01-06
2026-01-02

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Physical Network Density

Casey's General Stores, Inc. strengths

Brand TrustOperational ExcellenceDistribution ControlHabit DefaultSupply Chain ControlScope Economies

Norfolk Southern Corporation strengths

Permits Rights Of WayScale Economies Unit CostSwitching Costs General

Segment mix

Casey's General Stores, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Prepared Food and Dispensed Beverage

Competitive

10.1%

Grocery and General Merchandise

Competitive

26%

Fuel

Competitive

61.3%

Other (wholesale fuel, car wash, lottery)

Competitive

2.6%

Norfolk Southern Corporation segments

Full profile >

Merchandise

Oligopoly

62%

Intermodal

Oligopoly

25%

Coal

Oligopoly

13%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.

View the moat stocks list

Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

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

View expansion-stage stocks

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.