VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Stock Comparison
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
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 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 84 / 100 for Cadence Design Systems, Inc.).
- Segment focus: Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has 3 segments (71% in Core EDA); 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: Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has 8 moat types across 3 domains; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 7 across 4.
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%
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
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. strengths
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated strengths
Segment mix
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. segments
Full profile >Core EDA
Oligopoly
Semiconductor IP
Oligopoly
System Design and Analysis
Competitive
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated segments
Full profile >Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators
Quasi-Monopoly
Hemoglobinopathies Gene Therapy (CASGEVY)
Oligopoly
Acute Pain (JOURNAVX)
Competitive
Want the full wide moat stocks list?
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View the moat stocks listLooking for expansion-stage stocks?
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.