VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

GSK plc vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

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

GSK plc

GSK · London Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$75.9B
Gross margin (TTM)72.4%
Operating margin (TTM)23.5%
Net margin (TTM)17.1%
SectorHealthcare
IndustryDrug Manufacturers - General
CountryGB
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
62/ 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 GSK plc's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View GSK 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 62 / 100 for GSK plc).
  • Segment focus: GSK plc has 3 segments (37.6% in Specialty Medicines); 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: GSK plc has 4 moat types across 3 domains; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 7 across 4.

Primary market context

GSK plc

Specialty Medicines

Market

Branded specialty pharmaceuticals (HIV, oncology, immunology/respiratory)

Geography

Global

Customer

Hospitals, specialist physicians, payers

Role

Innovator & branded manufacturer

Revenue share

37.6%

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

GSK plc
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Ticker / Exchange
GSK - London Stock Exchange
VRTX - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$75.9B
$119B
Gross margin (TTM)
72.4%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
23.5%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
17.1%
n/a
Sector
Healthcare
Healthcare
Industry
Drug Manufacturers - General
Biotechnology
HQ country
GB
US
Primary segment
Specialty Medicines
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
62 / 100
99 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Legal, Demand
Legal, Demand, Financial, Supply
Last update
2025-12-28
2026-01-08

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

IP Choke PointSwitching Costs General

GSK plc strengths

Capex Knowhow ScaleCompliance Advantage

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated strengths

Government Contracting RelationshipsBenchmark Pricing PowerRegulated Standards PipeService Field NetworkCapacity Moat

Segment mix

GSK plc segments

Full profile >

Vaccines

Oligopoly

29.1%

Specialty Medicines

Oligopoly

37.6%

General Medicines

Competitive

33.2%

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?

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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.