VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

Equifax Inc. vs Norfolk Southern Corporation

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

Equifax Inc.

EFX · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$26.5B
Gross margin (TTM)56.3%
Operating margin (TTM)18.5%
Net margin (TTM)11.1%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryConsulting Services
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-26
Moat score
70/ 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 Equifax Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View EFX analysis

Norfolk Southern Corporation

NSC · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$65B
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorIndustrials
IndustryRailroads
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-02
Moat score
70/ 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 Norfolk Southern Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View NSC analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score: both at 70 / 100.
  • Segment focus: Equifax Inc. has 3 segments (42.8% in Workforce Solutions); Norfolk Southern Corporation has 3 segments (62% in Merchandise).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Equifax Inc. has 3 moat types across 3 domains; Norfolk Southern Corporation has 4 across 3.

Primary market context

Equifax Inc.

Workforce Solutions

Market

Income & employment verification and employer HR compliance services

Geography

Primarily U.S. (with smaller international offerings)

Customer

Employers, lenders, government agencies, and credentialed verifiers

Role

Payroll-fed data & verification intermediary

Revenue share

42.8%

Norfolk Southern Corporation

Merchandise

Market

Eastern U.S. freight rail transportation for industrial & consumer goods

Geography

United States (Southeast/East/Midwest; NS network + interchanges)

Customer

Manufacturers, producers, and distributors

Role

Rail carrier

Revenue share

62%

Side-by-side metrics

Equifax Inc.
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
EFX - New York Stock Exchange
NSC - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$26.5B
$65B
Gross margin (TTM)
56.3%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
18.5%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
11.1%
n/a
Sector
Industrials
Industrials
Industry
Consulting Services
Railroads
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Workforce Solutions
Merchandise
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Moderate
Moat score
70 / 100
70 / 100
Moat domains
Network, Demand, Legal
Supply, Legal, Demand
Last update
2025-12-26
2026-01-02

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

Equifax Inc. strengths

Data Network EffectsData Workflow LockinCompliance Advantage

Norfolk Southern Corporation strengths

Physical Network DensityPermits Rights Of WayScale Economies Unit CostSwitching Costs General

Segment mix

Equifax Inc. segments

Full profile >

Workforce Solutions

Oligopoly

42.8%

U.S. Information Solutions

Oligopoly

33.3%

International

Competitive

23.8%

Norfolk Southern Corporation segments

Full profile >

Merchandise

Oligopoly

62%

Intermodal

Oligopoly

25%

Coal

Oligopoly

13%

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.