VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

Marriott International, Inc. vs Norfolk Southern Corporation

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

Marriott International, Inc.

MAR · NASDAQ

Market cap (USD)$83.6B
Gross margin (TTM)21.7%
Operating margin (TTM)15.9%
Net margin (TTM)10.1%
SectorConsumer
IndustryTravel Lodging
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-01
Moat score
72/ 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 Marriott International, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View MAR 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: Marriott International, Inc. leads (72 / 100 vs 70 / 100 for Norfolk Southern Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Marriott International, Inc. has 2 segments; Norfolk Southern Corporation has 3 segments (62% in Merchandise).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Marriott International, Inc. has 4 moat types across 3 domains; Norfolk Southern Corporation has 4 across 3.

Primary market context

Marriott International, Inc.

U.S. & Canada Lodging Platform

Market

Branded hotel franchising & management platform (including loyalty and reservation systems)

Geography

U.S. & Canada

Customer

Two-sided: travelers (guests) and hotel owners (franchisees/owners of managed properties)

Role

Brand owner / franchisor / manager; operator of reservation, loyalty, and marketing systems

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

Marriott International, Inc.
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
MAR - NASDAQ
NSC - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$83.6B
$65B
Gross margin (TTM)
21.7%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
15.9%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
10.1%
n/a
Sector
Consumer
Industrials
Industry
Travel Lodging
Railroads
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
U.S. & Canada Lodging Platform
Merchandise
Market structure
Competitive
Oligopoly
Market share
16%-18% (reported)
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
72 / 100
70 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Network, Supply
Supply, Legal, Demand
Last update
2026-01-01
2026-01-02

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

Marriott International, Inc. strengths

Brand TrustTwo Sided NetworkDistribution ControlLong Term Contracts

Norfolk Southern Corporation strengths

Physical Network DensityPermits Rights Of WayScale Economies Unit CostSwitching Costs General

Segment mix

Marriott International, Inc. segments

Full profile >

U.S. & Canada Lodging Platform

Competitive

n/a

International Lodging Platform

Competitive

n/a

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.