VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

Honeywell International Inc. vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

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

Honeywell International Inc.

HON · The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Market cap (USD)$131.7B
Gross margin (TTM)37.1%
Operating margin (TTM)19.3%
Net margin (TTM)15.1%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryConglomerates
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-02
Moat score
58/ 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 Honeywell International Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View HON 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 58 / 100 for Honeywell International Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Honeywell International Inc. has 4 segments (40.2% in Aerospace Technologies); 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: Honeywell International Inc. has 9 moat types across 2 domains; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 7 across 4.

Primary market context

Honeywell International Inc.

Aerospace Technologies

Market

Aerospace systems, avionics, propulsion & aftermarket MRO services

Geography

Global

Customer

Aircraft OEMs, airlines/operators, defense & space contractors

Role

Tier-1 supplier + aftermarket service provider

Revenue share

40.2%

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

Honeywell International Inc.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Ticker / Exchange
HON - The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
VRTX - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$131.7B
$119B
Gross margin (TTM)
37.1%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
19.3%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
15.1%
n/a
Sector
Industrials
Healthcare
Industry
Conglomerates
Biotechnology
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Aerospace Technologies
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
58 / 100
99 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Legal
Legal, Demand, Financial, Supply
Last update
2026-01-02
2026-01-08

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Regulated Standards PipeSwitching Costs GeneralIP Choke Point

Honeywell International Inc. strengths

Installed Base ConsumablesData Workflow LockinSuite BundlingBrand TrustDesign In QualificationLong Term Contracts

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated strengths

Government Contracting RelationshipsBenchmark Pricing PowerService Field NetworkCapacity Moat

Segment mix

Honeywell International Inc. segments

Full profile >

Aerospace Technologies

Oligopoly

40.2%

Industrial Automation

Competitive

26.1%

Building Automation

Oligopoly

17%

Energy and Sustainability Solutions

Oligopoly

16.7%

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.