VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

The Home Depot, Inc. vs Norfolk Southern Corporation

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

The Home Depot, Inc.

HD · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$345.9B
Gross margin (TTM)33.4%
Operating margin (TTM)13%
Net margin (TTM)8.8%
SectorConsumer
IndustryHome Improvement
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
69/ 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 The Home Depot, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View HD 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 gap: Norfolk Southern Corporation leads (70 / 100 vs 69 / 100 for The Home Depot, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: The Home Depot, Inc. has 2 segments (96% in Primary segment - North American home improvement retail (stores + online)); Norfolk Southern Corporation has 3 segments (62% in Merchandise).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Weak vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: The Home Depot, Inc. has 4 moat types across 2 domains; Norfolk Southern Corporation has 4 across 3.

Primary market context

The Home Depot, Inc.

Primary segment - North American home improvement retail (stores + online)

Market

Home improvement retail (omnichannel)

Geography

North America (US, Canada, Mexico)

Customer

DIY homeowners and professional contractors

Role

Retailer

Revenue share

96%

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

The Home Depot, Inc.
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
HD - New York Stock Exchange
NSC - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$345.9B
$65B
Gross margin (TTM)
33.4%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
13%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
8.8%
n/a
Sector
Consumer
Industrials
Industry
Home Improvement
Railroads
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Primary segment - North American home improvement retail (stores + online)
Merchandise
Market structure
Competitive
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Weak
Moderate
Moat score
69 / 100
70 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand
Supply, Legal, Demand
Last update
2025-12-30
2026-01-02

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Physical Network DensityScale Economies Unit Cost

The Home Depot, Inc. strengths

Distribution ControlProcurement Inertia

Norfolk Southern Corporation strengths

Permits Rights Of WaySwitching Costs General

Segment mix

The Home Depot, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Primary segment - North American home improvement retail (stores + online)

Competitive

96%

Other - Specialty trade distribution (SRS: roofing, landscape, pool)

Competitive

4%

Norfolk Southern Corporation segments

Full profile >

Merchandise

Oligopoly

62%

Intermodal

Oligopoly

25%

Coal

Oligopoly

13%

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.