VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

CSX Corporation vs Northrop Grumman Corporation

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

Northrop Grumman Corporation

NOC · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$82.5B
Gross margin (TTM)19.4%
Operating margin (TTM)10.6%
Net margin (TTM)9.8%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryAerospace & Defense
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-26
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 Northrop Grumman Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View NOC analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: CSX Corporation leads (74 / 100 vs 72 / 100 for Northrop Grumman Corporation).
  • Segment focus: CSX Corporation has 5 segments (61.2% in Merchandise (Rail)); Northrop Grumman Corporation has 4 segments (28.7% in Aeronautics Systems).
  • Moat breadth: CSX Corporation has 6 moat types across 2 domains; Northrop Grumman Corporation has 6 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%

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Aeronautics Systems

Market

Military aircraft systems (manned & unmanned) plus sustainment/modernization

Geography

Global (primarily United States and allies)

Customer

U.S. government and allied governments

Role

Prime contractor and major subsystem supplier

Revenue share

28.7%

Side-by-side metrics

CSX Corporation
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
CSX - NASDAQ
NOC - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$67.7B
$82.5B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
19.4%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
10.6%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
9.8%
Sector
Industrials
Industrials
Industry
Railroads
Aerospace & Defense
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Merchandise (Rail)
Aeronautics Systems
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
74 / 100
72 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Legal
Legal, Demand, Supply
Last update
2026-01-02
2025-12-26

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Capex Knowhow Scale

CSX Corporation strengths

Physical Network DensityPermits Rights Of WayOperational ExcellenceGeographic NaturalScale Economies Unit Cost

Northrop Grumman Corporation strengths

Government Contracting RelationshipsDesign In QualificationCompliance AdvantageCapacity MoatSwitching Costs General

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%

Northrop Grumman Corporation segments

Full profile >

Aeronautics Systems

Oligopoly

28.7%

Defense Systems

Oligopoly

18.8%

Mission Systems

Oligopoly

24.9%

Space Systems

Oligopoly

27.6%

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.