VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Friday, January 2, 2026
Stock Comparison
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. vs Norfolk Southern Corporation
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
CDNS · 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 Cadence Design Systems, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View CDNS analysisNorfolk Southern Corporation
NSC · New York 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 Norfolk Southern Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View NSC analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: Cadence Design Systems, Inc. leads (84 / 100 vs 70 / 100 for Norfolk Southern Corporation).
- Segment focus: Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has 3 segments (71% in Core EDA); Norfolk Southern Corporation has 3 segments (62% in Merchandise).
- Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has 8 moat types across 3 domains; Norfolk Southern Corporation has 4 across 3.
Primary market context
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
Core EDA
Electronic design automation tools for semiconductor IC design and verification (digital, custom/analog, signoff, functional verification)
Global
Semiconductor designers (fabless and IDMs) and system companies with in-house silicon teams
Tool vendor / workflow platform
71%
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Merchandise
Eastern U.S. freight rail transportation for industrial & consumer goods
United States (Southeast/East/Midwest; NS network + interchanges)
Manufacturers, producers, and distributors
Rail carrier
62%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
No overlap yet.
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. strengths
Norfolk Southern Corporation strengths
Segment mix
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. segments
Full profile >Core EDA
Oligopoly
Semiconductor IP
Oligopoly
System Design and Analysis
Competitive
Norfolk Southern Corporation segments
Full profile >Merchandise
Oligopoly
Intermodal
Oligopoly
Coal
Oligopoly
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View the moat stocks listCuration & 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.