VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

The Coca-Cola Company vs Norfolk Southern Corporation

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

The Coca-Cola Company

KO · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$298.4B
Gross margin (TTM)61.6%
Operating margin (TTM)30.7%
Net margin (TTM)27.3%
SectorConsumer
IndustryBeverages - Non-Alcoholic
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
79/ 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 Coca-Cola Company's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View KO 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: The Coca-Cola Company leads (79 / 100 vs 70 / 100 for Norfolk Southern Corporation).
  • Segment focus: The Coca-Cola Company has 6 segments (39.6% in North America); Norfolk Southern Corporation has 3 segments (62% in Merchandise).
  • Moat breadth: The Coca-Cola Company has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Norfolk Southern Corporation has 4 across 3.

Primary market context

The Coca-Cola Company

North America

Market

Nonalcoholic ready-to-drink beverages

Geography

North America (primarily United States and Canada)

Customer

Retailers, foodservice, and consumers

Role

Brand owner and concentrate/syrup producer; system marketing leadership

Revenue share

39.6%

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 Coca-Cola Company
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
KO - New York Stock Exchange
NSC - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$298.4B
$65B
Gross margin (TTM)
61.6%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
30.7%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
27.3%
n/a
Sector
Consumer
Industrials
Industry
Beverages - Non-Alcoholic
Railroads
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
North America
Merchandise
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
79 / 100
70 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Supply, Legal, Demand
Last update
2025-12-30
2026-01-02

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

The Coca-Cola Company strengths

Brand TrustDistribution ControlLong Term ContractsScope EconomiesIP Choke PointService Field NetworkOperational Excellence

Norfolk Southern Corporation strengths

Physical Network DensityPermits Rights Of WayScale Economies Unit CostSwitching Costs General

Segment mix

The Coca-Cola Company segments

Full profile >

Europe, Middle East & Africa

Oligopoly

15.8%

Latin America

Oligopoly

13.7%

North America

Oligopoly

39.6%

Asia Pacific

Oligopoly

10.8%

Global Ventures

Competitive

6.6%

Bottling Investments

Competitive

13.2%

Norfolk Southern Corporation segments

Full profile >

Merchandise

Oligopoly

62%

Intermodal

Oligopoly

25%

Coal

Oligopoly

13%

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.