VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

DSM-Firmenich AG vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

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

DSM-Firmenich AG

DSFIR · Euronext Amsterdam

Market cap (USD)$17.9B
Gross margin (TTM)34.1%
Operating margin (TTM)9.2%
Net margin (TTM)5.5%
SectorMaterials
IndustryHousehold & Personal Products
CountryCH
Data as of2025-12-29
Moat score
63/ 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 DSM-Firmenich AG's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View DSFIR 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 63 / 100 for DSM-Firmenich AG).
  • Segment focus: DSM-Firmenich AG has 4 segments (31% in Perfumery & Beauty); 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: DSM-Firmenich AG has 10 moat types across 4 domains; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 7 across 4.

Primary market context

DSM-Firmenich AG

Perfumery & Beauty

Market

B2B fragrances, perfumery ingredients, and beauty ingredients

Geography

Global

Customer

Consumer brands (fine fragrance, personal care, home care) and beauty brands

Role

Ingredient supplier / fragrance house (co-creation + ingredient palette)

Revenue share

31%

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

DSM-Firmenich AG
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Ticker / Exchange
DSFIR - Euronext Amsterdam
VRTX - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$17.9B
$119B
Gross margin (TTM)
34.1%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
9.2%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
5.5%
n/a
Sector
Materials
Healthcare
Industry
Household & Personal Products
Biotechnology
HQ country
CH
US
Primary segment
Perfumery & Beauty
Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators
Market structure
Oligopoly
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
n/a
70%-78% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
63 / 100
99 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand, Legal, Network
Legal, Demand, Financial, Supply
Last update
2025-12-29
2026-01-08

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

IP Choke PointService Field Network

DSM-Firmenich AG strengths

Supply Chain ControlTraining Org Change CostsScope EconomiesLearning Curve YieldCompliance AdvantageDesign In QualificationEcosystem ComplementsData Workflow Lockin

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated strengths

Government Contracting RelationshipsSwitching Costs GeneralBenchmark Pricing PowerRegulated Standards PipeCapacity Moat

Segment mix

DSM-Firmenich AG segments

Full profile >

Perfumery & Beauty

Oligopoly

31%

Taste, Texture & Health

Oligopoly

25.4%

Health, Nutrition & Care

Competitive

17.3%

Animal Nutrition & Health

Competitive

26%

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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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.