VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

Norfolk Southern Corporation vs L'Oreal S.A.

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

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

L'Oreal S.A.

OR · Euronext Paris

Market cap (USD)$193.8B
Gross margin (TTM)74.1%
Operating margin (TTM)19.5%
Net margin (TTM)14.6%
SectorConsumer
IndustryHousehold & Personal Products
CountryFR
Data as of2025-12-31
Moat score
80/ 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 L'Oreal S.A.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View OR analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: L'Oreal S.A. leads (80 / 100 vs 70 / 100 for Norfolk Southern Corporation).
  • Segment focus: Norfolk Southern Corporation has 3 segments (62% in Merchandise); L'Oreal S.A. has 4 segments (37% in Consumer Products Division).
  • Moat breadth: Norfolk Southern Corporation has 4 moat types across 3 domains; L'Oreal S.A. has 7 across 3.

Primary market context

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%

L'Oreal S.A.

Consumer Products Division

Market

Mass-market beauty & personal care (skincare, haircare, makeup, hygiene)

Geography

Global

Customer

Consumers via mass retail, drugstores, supermarkets, and e-commerce

Role

Brand owner / marketer / manufacturer

Revenue share

37%

Side-by-side metrics

Norfolk Southern Corporation
L'Oreal S.A.
Ticker / Exchange
NSC - New York Stock Exchange
OR - Euronext Paris
Market cap (USD)
$65B
$193.8B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
74.1%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
19.5%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
14.6%
Sector
Industrials
Consumer
Industry
Railroads
Household & Personal Products
HQ country
US
FR
Primary segment
Merchandise
Consumer Products Division
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
70 / 100
80 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Legal, Demand
Demand, Supply, Legal
Last update
2026-01-02
2025-12-31

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

Norfolk Southern Corporation strengths

Physical Network DensityPermits Rights Of WayScale Economies Unit CostSwitching Costs General

L'Oreal S.A. strengths

Brand TrustDistribution ControlCapex Knowhow ScaleContractual ExclusivityService Field NetworkCompliance AdvantageTraining Org Change Costs

Segment mix

Norfolk Southern Corporation segments

Full profile >

Merchandise

Oligopoly

62%

Intermodal

Oligopoly

25%

Coal

Oligopoly

13%

L'Oreal S.A. segments

Full profile >

Consumer Products Division

Oligopoly

37%

L'Oreal Luxe Division

Oligopoly

36%

Dermatological Beauty Division

Oligopoly

16%

Professional Products Division

Oligopoly

11%

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.