VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

The Coca-Cola Company vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

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)$303.5B
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

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 79 / 100 for The Coca-Cola Company).
  • Segment focus: The Coca-Cola Company has 6 segments (39.6% in North America); Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 3 segments (99.9% in Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: The Coca-Cola Company has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 7 across 4.

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%

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

The Coca-Cola Company
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Ticker / Exchange
KO - New York Stock Exchange
VRTX - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$303.5B
$119B
Gross margin (TTM)
61.6%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
30.7%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
27.3%
n/a
Sector
Consumer
Healthcare
Industry
Beverages - Non-Alcoholic
Biotechnology
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
North America
Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators
Market structure
Oligopoly
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
n/a
70%-78% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
79 / 100
99 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Legal, Demand, Financial, Supply
Last update
2025-12-30
2026-01-08

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

IP Choke PointService Field Network

The Coca-Cola Company strengths

Brand TrustDistribution ControlLong Term ContractsScope EconomiesOperational Excellence

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated strengths

Government Contracting RelationshipsSwitching Costs GeneralBenchmark Pricing PowerRegulated Standards PipeCapacity Moat

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%

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.

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Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.

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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.