VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

James Hardie Industries plc vs Norfolk Southern Corporation

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

James Hardie Industries plc

JHX · ASX

Market cap (USD)$17.8B
Gross margin (TTM)36.3%
Operating margin (TTM)13.6%
Net margin (TTM)4.7%
SectorMaterials
IndustryConstruction Materials
CountryIE
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
74/ 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 James Hardie Industries plc's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View JHX 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: James Hardie Industries plc leads (74 / 100 vs 70 / 100 for Norfolk Southern Corporation).
  • Segment focus: James Hardie Industries plc has 4 segments (64.2% in Siding & Trim); Norfolk Southern Corporation has 3 segments (62% in Merchandise).
  • Primary market structure: Quasi-Monopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: James Hardie Industries plc has 5 moat types across 2 domains; Norfolk Southern Corporation has 4 across 3.

Primary market context

James Hardie Industries plc

Siding & Trim

Market

North American fiber cement exterior siding & trim (plus related exterior products)

Geography

North America (primarily U.S. and Canada)

Customer

Homebuilders, contractors, remodelers, dealers/distributors, and retailers

Role

Manufacturer / branded building-products supplier

Revenue share

64.2%

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

James Hardie Industries plc
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
JHX - ASX
NSC - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$17.8B
$65B
Gross margin (TTM)
36.3%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
13.6%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
4.7%
n/a
Sector
Materials
Industrials
Industry
Construction Materials
Railroads
HQ country
IE
US
Primary segment
Siding & Trim
Merchandise
Market structure
Quasi-Monopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
88%-92% (estimated)
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
74 / 100
70 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand
Supply, Legal, Demand
Last update
2025-12-28
2026-01-02

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

James Hardie Industries plc strengths

Capex Knowhow ScaleBrand TrustLong Term ContractsOperational ExcellenceDistribution Control

Norfolk Southern Corporation strengths

Physical Network DensityPermits Rights Of WayScale Economies Unit CostSwitching Costs General

Segment mix

James Hardie Industries plc segments

Full profile >

Siding & Trim

Quasi-Monopoly

64.2%

Deck, Rail & Accessories

Oligopoly

11.7%

Australia & New Zealand

Oligopoly

11.6%

Europe

Competitive

12.5%

Norfolk Southern Corporation segments

Full profile >

Merchandise

Oligopoly

62%

Intermodal

Oligopoly

25%

Coal

Oligopoly

13%

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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.