VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

Graco Inc. vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

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

Graco Inc.

GGG · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$14.2B
Gross margin (TTM)52.3%
Operating margin (TTM)26.6%
Net margin (TTM)22.7%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryIndustrial - Machinery
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-05
Moat score
67/ 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 Graco Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View GGG 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 67 / 100 for Graco Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Graco Inc. has 3 segments (49.4% in Contractor); 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: Graco Inc. has 7 moat types across 2 domains; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 7 across 4.

Primary market context

Graco Inc.

Contractor

Market

Professional and prosumer paint/coatings application equipment (airless sprayers, texture sprayers, line stripers, plural-component proportioners)

Geography

Global

Customer

Professional contractors and trades; DIY consumers via retail channels

Role

Equipment OEM / brand owner

Revenue share

49.4%

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

Graco Inc.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Ticker / Exchange
GGG - New York Stock Exchange
VRTX - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$14.2B
$119B
Gross margin (TTM)
52.3%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
26.6%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
22.7%
n/a
Sector
Industrials
Healthcare
Industry
Industrial - Machinery
Biotechnology
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Contractor
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
67 / 100
99 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Legal, Demand, Financial, Supply
Last update
2026-01-05
2026-01-08

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Service Field Network

Graco Inc. strengths

Brand TrustDistribution ControlOperational ExcellenceDesign In QualificationInstalled Base ConsumablesScope Economies

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated strengths

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

Segment mix

Graco Inc. segments

Full profile >

Contractor

Oligopoly

49.4%

Industrial

Oligopoly

43.1%

Expansion Markets

Competitive

7.5%

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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Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

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

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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.