VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

The Hershey Company vs Vulcan Materials Company

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

The Hershey Company

HSY · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$37.2B
Gross margin (TTM)37.5%
Operating margin (TTM)16.6%
Net margin (TTM)11.8%
SectorConsumer
IndustryFood Confectioners
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-26
Moat score
75/ 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 Hershey Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View HSY analysis

Vulcan Materials Company

VMC · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$38.3B
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorMaterials
IndustryConstruction Materials
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-01
Moat score
73/ 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 Vulcan Materials Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View VMC analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: The Hershey Company leads (75 / 100 vs 73 / 100 for Vulcan Materials Company).
  • Segment focus: The Hershey Company has 3 segments (81.4% in North America Confectionery); Vulcan Materials Company has 3 segments (74.4% in Aggregates).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: The Hershey Company has 4 moat types across 2 domains; Vulcan Materials Company has 5 across 2.

Primary market context

The Hershey Company

North America Confectionery

Market

Branded chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery

Geography

United States and Canada

Customer

Retail consumers via grocery, mass, club and convenience

Role

Branded manufacturer and marketer

Revenue share

81.4%

Vulcan Materials Company

Aggregates

Market

Construction aggregates (crushed stone, sand & gravel)

Geography

United States (local/regional markets)

Customer

Construction contractors and public infrastructure agencies

Role

Upstream raw materials producer

Revenue share

74.4%

Side-by-side metrics

The Hershey Company
Vulcan Materials Company
Ticker / Exchange
HSY - New York Stock Exchange
VMC - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$37.2B
$38.3B
Gross margin (TTM)
37.5%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
16.6%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
11.8%
n/a
Sector
Consumer
Materials
Industry
Food Confectioners
Construction Materials
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
North America Confectionery
Aggregates
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
34%-38% (reported)
8%-11% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
75 / 100
73 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply
Legal, Supply
Last update
2025-12-26
2026-01-01

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

The Hershey Company strengths

Brand TrustDistribution ControlOperational ExcellenceScope Economies

Vulcan Materials Company strengths

Permits Rights Of WayGeographic NaturalPhysical Network DensityScale Economies Unit CostSupply Chain Control

Segment mix

The Hershey Company segments

Full profile >

North America Confectionery

Oligopoly

81.4%

North America Salty Snacks

Oligopoly

10.1%

International

Competitive

8.5%

Vulcan Materials Company segments

Full profile >

Aggregates

Oligopoly

74.4%

Asphalt

Competitive

16.8%

Concrete

Competitive

8.8%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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

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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.