VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Friday, January 2, 2026
Stock Comparison
Mastercard Incorporated vs Norfolk Southern Corporation
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
Mastercard Incorporated
MA · New York Stock Exchange
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into Mastercard Incorporated's moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View MA analysisNorfolk Southern Corporation
NSC · New York Stock Exchange
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 analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: Mastercard Incorporated leads (77 / 100 vs 70 / 100 for Norfolk Southern Corporation).
- Segment focus: Mastercard Incorporated has 2 segments (61.5% in Payment Network); Norfolk Southern Corporation has 3 segments (62% in Merchandise).
- Moat breadth: Mastercard Incorporated has 6 moat types across 3 domains; Norfolk Southern Corporation has 4 across 3.
Primary market context
Mastercard Incorporated
Payment Network
Four-party card payment network (switching, acceptance, and network-related services)
Global
Issuers, acquirers, merchants, account holders
Network operator (authorization, clearing, settlement) and rules/standards steward
61.5%
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Merchandise
Eastern U.S. freight rail transportation for industrial & consumer goods
United States (Southeast/East/Midwest; NS network + interchanges)
Manufacturers, producers, and distributors
Rail carrier
62%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
No overlap yet.
Mastercard Incorporated strengths
Norfolk Southern Corporation strengths
Segment mix
Mastercard Incorporated segments
Full profile >Payment Network
Oligopoly
Value-Added Services and Solutions
Competitive
Norfolk Southern Corporation segments
Full profile >Merchandise
Oligopoly
Intermodal
Oligopoly
Coal
Oligopoly
Want the full wide moat stocks list?
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View the moat stocks listCuration & 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.