VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

Nestle S.A. vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

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

Nestle S.A.

NESN · SIX Swiss Exchange

Market cap (USD)$194B
Gross margin (TTM)46.8%
Operating margin (TTM)15.5%
Net margin (TTM)11.8%
SectorConsumer
IndustryPackaged Foods
CountryCH
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
57/ 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 Nestle S.A.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View NESN 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 57 / 100 for Nestle S.A.).
  • Segment focus: Nestle S.A. has 7 segments (26.9% in Powdered and Liquid Beverages); 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: Nestle S.A. has 6 moat types across 3 domains; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 7 across 4.

Primary market context

Nestle S.A.

Powdered and Liquid Beverages

Market

Packaged coffee (instant, roast and ground, portioned) and other powdered beverages (cocoa/malt, creamers)

Geography

Global

Customer

Consumers (end-users) via retail and e-commerce; plus out-of-home channels

Role

Branded manufacturer and marketer; system operator for portioned coffee (machines + capsules)

Revenue share

26.9%

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

Nestle S.A.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Ticker / Exchange
NESN - SIX Swiss Exchange
VRTX - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$194B
$119B
Gross margin (TTM)
46.8%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
15.5%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
11.8%
n/a
Sector
Consumer
Healthcare
Industry
Packaged Foods
Biotechnology
HQ country
CH
US
Primary segment
Powdered and Liquid Beverages
Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators
Market structure
Oligopoly
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
25% (reported)
70%-78% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
57 / 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

No overlap yet.

Nestle S.A. strengths

Brand TrustPreferential Input AccessInstalled Base ConsumablesLearning Curve YieldDistribution ControlCompliance Advantage

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated strengths

IP Choke PointGovernment Contracting RelationshipsSwitching Costs GeneralBenchmark Pricing PowerRegulated Standards PipeService Field NetworkCapacity Moat

Segment mix

Nestle S.A. segments

Full profile >

Powdered and Liquid Beverages

Oligopoly

26.9%

PetCare

Oligopoly

20.7%

Nutrition and Health Science

Oligopoly

16.6%

Prepared dishes and cooking aids

Competitive

11.7%

Milk products and Ice cream

Competitive

11.4%

Confectionery

Oligopoly

9.2%

Water

Competitive

3.5%

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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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.