VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

CSX Corporation vs Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.

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

CSX Corporation

CSX · NASDAQ

Market cap (USD)$67.7B
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorIndustrials
IndustryRailroads
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-02
Moat score
74/ 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 CSX Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View CSX analysis

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.

HLT · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$67.4B
Gross margin (TTM)27.8%
Operating margin (TTM)22%
Net margin (TTM)14.2%
SectorConsumer
IndustryTravel Lodging
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-01
Moat score
72/ 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 Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View HLT analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: CSX Corporation leads (74 / 100 vs 72 / 100 for Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.).
  • Segment focus: CSX Corporation has 5 segments (61.2% in Merchandise (Rail)); Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. has 2 segments (72.7% in Management and Franchise).
  • Moat breadth: CSX Corporation has 6 moat types across 2 domains; Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. has 5 across 3.

Primary market context

CSX Corporation

Merchandise (Rail)

Market

Eastern U.S. rail freight transportation (merchandise carload)

Geography

Eastern United States (CSX network; interchange to other railroads)

Customer

Industrial, agricultural, automotive and consumer goods shippers; logistics providers

Role

Common-carrier freight railroad (line-haul + switching/terminal)

Revenue share

61.2%

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.

Management and Franchise

Market

Hotel management, franchising and brand licensing

Geography

Global

Customer

Third-party hotel owners / franchisees and strategic partners

Role

Franchisor / manager / IP licensor

Revenue share

72.7%

Side-by-side metrics

CSX Corporation
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
CSX - NASDAQ
HLT - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$67.7B
$67.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
27.8%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
22%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
14.2%
Sector
Industrials
Consumer
Industry
Railroads
Travel Lodging
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Merchandise (Rail)
Management and Franchise
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
13%-15% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
1,350
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
74 / 100
72 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Legal
Network, Demand, Supply
Last update
2026-01-02
2026-01-01

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Scale Economies Unit Cost

CSX Corporation strengths

Physical Network DensityPermits Rights Of WayCapex Knowhow ScaleOperational ExcellenceGeographic Natural

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. strengths

Two Sided NetworkLong Term ContractsBrand TrustEcosystem Complements

Segment mix

CSX Corporation segments

Full profile >

Merchandise (Rail)

Oligopoly

61.2%

Intermodal (Rail)

Competitive

14.1%

Coal (Rail)

Oligopoly

15.5%

Trucking (Quality Carriers)

Competitive

5.8%

Other Revenue (Rail/Ancillary)

Competitive

3.4%

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. segments

Full profile >

Management and Franchise

Oligopoly

72.7%

Ownership

Competitive

27.3%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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

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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.