VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

Celsius Holdings, Inc. vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

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

Celsius Holdings, Inc.

CELH · NASDAQ

Market cap (USD)$13.6B
Gross margin (TTM)51.4%
Operating margin (TTM)4.5%
Net margin (TTM)3%
SectorConsumer
IndustryBeverages - Non-Alcoholic
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-05
Moat score
57/ 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 Celsius Holdings, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View CELH analysis

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

VRTX · NASDAQ

Market cap (USD)$119B
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorHealthcare
IndustryBiotechnology
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-08
Moat score
99/ 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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View VRTX analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated leads (99 / 100 vs 57 / 100 for Celsius Holdings, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Celsius Holdings, Inc. has 1 segment (100% in Functional Energy Beverages (CELSIUS, Alani Nu, Rockstar)); Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 3 segments (99.9% in Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: Celsius Holdings, Inc. has 3 moat types across 2 domains; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 7 across 4.

Primary market context

Celsius Holdings, Inc.

Functional Energy Beverages (CELSIUS, Alani Nu, Rockstar)

Market

Energy drinks (functional/better-for-you positioning) and adjacent wellness products

Geography

Primarily North America; growing international presence

Customer

Consumers via retail and e-commerce channels; sold through distributor/retail channels

Role

Brand owner / product developer; uses third-party manufacturing and third-party distribution

Revenue share

100%

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators

Market

CFTR modulator therapies for cystic fibrosis

Geography

U.S., Europe, Australia, Canada

Customer

Patients (via specialty pharmacies/payers); CF care centers

Role

Drug developer/manufacturer

Revenue share

99.9%

Side-by-side metrics

Celsius Holdings, Inc.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Ticker / Exchange
CELH - NASDAQ
VRTX - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$13.6B
$119B
Gross margin (TTM)
51.4%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
4.5%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
3%
n/a
Sector
Consumer
Healthcare
Industry
Beverages - Non-Alcoholic
Biotechnology
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Functional Energy Beverages (CELSIUS, Alani Nu, Rockstar)
Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators
Market structure
Oligopoly
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
16%-16.4% (reported)
70%-78% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
57 / 100
99 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand
Legal, Demand, Financial, Supply
Last update
2026-01-05
2026-01-08

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

Celsius Holdings, Inc. strengths

Distribution ControlBrand TrustScope Economies

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated strengths

IP Choke PointGovernment Contracting RelationshipsSwitching Costs GeneralBenchmark Pricing PowerRegulated Standards PipeService Field NetworkCapacity Moat

Segment mix

Celsius Holdings, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Functional Energy Beverages (CELSIUS, Alani Nu, Rockstar)

Oligopoly

100%

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated segments

Full profile >

Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators

Quasi-Monopoly

99.9%

Hemoglobinopathies Gene Therapy (CASGEVY)

Oligopoly

0.1%

Acute Pain (JOURNAVX)

Competitive

n/a

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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

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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.