VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

Altria Group, Inc. vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

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

Altria Group, Inc.

MO · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$96.6B
Gross margin (TTM)72%
Operating margin (TTM)55.2%
Net margin (TTM)44%
SectorConsumer
IndustryTobacco
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
88/ 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 Altria Group, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View MO 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 88 / 100 for Altria Group, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Altria Group, Inc. has 3 segments (88.3% in Smokeable Products); Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 3 segments (99.9% in Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Strong vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: Altria Group, Inc. has 5 moat types across 3 domains; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 7 across 4.

Primary market context

Altria Group, Inc.

Smokeable Products

Market

U.S. cigarettes and machine-made cigars

Geography

United States

Customer

Wholesalers/distributors and large retail organizations (serving adult tobacco consumers 21+)

Role

Manufacturer and brand owner

Revenue share

88.3%

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

Altria Group, Inc.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Ticker / Exchange
MO - New York Stock Exchange
VRTX - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$96.6B
$119B
Gross margin (TTM)
72%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
55.2%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
44%
n/a
Sector
Consumer
Healthcare
Industry
Tobacco
Biotechnology
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Smokeable Products
Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators
Market structure
Oligopoly
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
45.9% (reported)
70%-78% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Strong
Moat score
88 / 100
99 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Financial, Legal
Legal, Demand, Financial, Supply
Last update
2025-12-30
2026-01-08

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Benchmark Pricing PowerRegulated Standards Pipe

Altria Group, Inc. strengths

Brand TrustHabit DefaultCompliance Advantage

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated strengths

IP Choke PointGovernment Contracting RelationshipsSwitching Costs GeneralService Field NetworkCapacity Moat

Segment mix

Altria Group, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Smokeable Products

Oligopoly

88.3%

Oral Tobacco Products

Oligopoly

11.6%

E-Vapor and New Products (NJOY, Horizon, R&D)

Competitive

0.2%

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?

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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.