VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

Emerson Electric Co. vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

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

Emerson Electric Co.

EMR · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$81B
Gross margin (TTM)52.8%
Operating margin (TTM)17.7%
Net margin (TTM)12.7%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryIndustrial - Machinery
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 Emerson Electric Co.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View EMR 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 70 / 100 for Emerson Electric Co.).
  • Segment focus: Emerson Electric Co. has 6 segments (24.2% in Final Control); Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 3 segments (99.9% in Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Strong vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: Emerson Electric Co. has 10 moat types across 4 domains; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 7 across 4.

Primary market context

Emerson Electric Co.

Final Control

Market

Industrial control valves, isolation/shutoff valves, pressure relief & safety valves, actuators and regulators

Geography

Global

Customer

Process & hybrid manufacturers

Role

Automation components supplier

Revenue share

24.2%

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

Emerson Electric Co.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Ticker / Exchange
EMR - New York Stock Exchange
VRTX - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$81B
$119B
Gross margin (TTM)
52.8%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
17.7%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
12.7%
n/a
Sector
Industrials
Healthcare
Industry
Industrial - Machinery
Biotechnology
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Final Control
Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators
Market structure
Oligopoly
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
n/a
70%-78% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Strong
Moat score
70 / 100
99 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal, Network
Legal, Demand, Financial, Supply
Last update
2026-01-02
2026-01-08

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Service Field Network

Emerson Electric Co. strengths

Installed Base ConsumablesBrand TrustDesign In QualificationCompliance AdvantageDistribution ControlData Workflow LockinSuite BundlingEcosystem ComplementsInteroperability Hub

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated strengths

IP Choke PointGovernment Contracting RelationshipsSwitching Costs GeneralBenchmark Pricing PowerRegulated Standards PipeCapacity Moat

Segment mix

Emerson Electric Co. segments

Full profile >

Final Control

Oligopoly

24.2%

Measurement & Analytical

Oligopoly

22.9%

Discrete Automation

Competitive

13.9%

Safety & Productivity

Competitive

7.5%

Control Systems & Software

Oligopoly

23.2%

Test & Measurement

Competitive

8.2%

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?

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

View the moat stocks list

Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

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

View expansion-stage stocks

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.