VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

Norfolk Southern Corporation vs Roche Holding AG

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

Roche Holding AG

ROG · SIX Swiss Exchange

Market cap (USD)$261.4B
Gross margin (TTM)73.6%
Operating margin (TTM)29.1%
Net margin (TTM)15.4%
SectorHealthcare
IndustryDrug Manufacturers - General
CountryCH
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
68/ 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 Roche Holding AG's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View ROG analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Norfolk Southern Corporation leads (70 / 100 vs 68 / 100 for Roche Holding AG).
  • Segment focus: Norfolk Southern Corporation has 3 segments (62% in Merchandise); Roche Holding AG has 2 segments (76.3% in Pharmaceuticals).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Norfolk Southern Corporation has 4 moat types across 3 domains; Roche Holding AG has 5 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%

Roche Holding AG

Pharmaceuticals

Market

Innovative (branded) prescription pharmaceuticals

Geography

Global

Customer

Healthcare providers and systems (hospitals/clinics), payers/governments, and patients

Role

Innovator pharmaceutical developer, manufacturer and marketer

Revenue share

76.3%

Side-by-side metrics

Norfolk Southern Corporation
Roche Holding AG
Ticker / Exchange
NSC - New York Stock Exchange
ROG - SIX Swiss Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$65B
$261.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
73.6%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
29.1%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
15.4%
Sector
Industrials
Healthcare
Industry
Railroads
Drug Manufacturers - General
HQ country
US
CH
Primary segment
Merchandise
Pharmaceuticals
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
70 / 100
68 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Legal, Demand
Legal, Supply, Demand
Last update
2026-01-02
2025-12-28

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

Norfolk Southern Corporation strengths

Physical Network DensityPermits Rights Of WayScale Economies Unit CostSwitching Costs General

Roche Holding AG strengths

IP Choke PointCapex Knowhow ScaleInstalled Base ConsumablesData Workflow LockinRegulated Standards Pipe

Segment mix

Norfolk Southern Corporation segments

Full profile >

Merchandise

Oligopoly

62%

Intermodal

Oligopoly

25%

Coal

Oligopoly

13%

Roche Holding AG segments

Full profile >

Pharmaceuticals

Competitive

76.3%

Diagnostics

Oligopoly

23.7%

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.