VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Friday, January 2, 2026
Stock Comparison
Merck & Co., Inc. vs Norfolk Southern Corporation
Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.
Merck & Co., Inc.
MRK · 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 Merck & Co., Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View MRK 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: Merck & Co., Inc. leads (71 / 100 vs 70 / 100 for Norfolk Southern Corporation).
- Segment focus: Merck & Co., Inc. has 2 segments (89.5% in Pharmaceutical); Norfolk Southern Corporation has 3 segments (62% in Merchandise).
- Primary market structure: Competitive vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
- Moat breadth: Merck & Co., Inc. has 5 moat types across 3 domains; Norfolk Southern Corporation has 4 across 3.
Primary market context
Merck & Co., Inc.
Pharmaceutical
Branded prescription pharmaceuticals & human vaccines
Global
Wholesalers/retailers, managed care and government payers, hospitals/clinics
R&D-intensive innovator, manufacturer, and marketer
89.5%
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.
Merck & Co., Inc. strengths
Norfolk Southern Corporation strengths
Segment mix
Merck & Co., Inc. segments
Full profile >Pharmaceutical
Competitive
Animal Health
Oligopoly
Norfolk Southern Corporation segments
Full profile >Merchandise
Oligopoly
Intermodal
Oligopoly
Coal
Oligopoly
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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.