VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

Norfolk Southern Corporation vs Unilever PLC

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

Unilever PLC

ULVR · London Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$105.2B
Gross margin (TTM)35.4%
Operating margin (TTM)16.1%
Net margin (TTM)9.9%
SectorConsumer
IndustryHousehold & Personal Products
CountryGB
Data as of2025-12-30
Moat score
65/ 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 Unilever PLC's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View ULVR analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Norfolk Southern Corporation leads (70 / 100 vs 65 / 100 for Unilever PLC).
  • Segment focus: Norfolk Southern Corporation has 3 segments (62% in Merchandise); Unilever PLC has 4 segments (25.9% in Personal Care).
  • Moat breadth: Norfolk Southern Corporation has 4 moat types across 3 domains; Unilever PLC has 3 across 2.

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%

Unilever PLC

Personal Care

Market

Branded personal care and hygiene (deodorants, skin cleansing, oral care)

Geography

Global

Customer

Consumers (retail, e-commerce)

Role

Brand owner / manufacturer

Revenue share

25.9%

Side-by-side metrics

Norfolk Southern Corporation
Unilever PLC
Ticker / Exchange
NSC - New York Stock Exchange
ULVR - London Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$65B
$105.2B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
35.4%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
16.1%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
9.9%
Sector
Industrials
Consumer
Industry
Railroads
Household & Personal Products
HQ country
US
GB
Primary segment
Merchandise
Personal Care
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
70 / 100
65 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Legal, Demand
Demand, Supply
Last update
2026-01-02
2025-12-30

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Scale Economies Unit Cost

Norfolk Southern Corporation strengths

Physical Network DensityPermits Rights Of WaySwitching Costs General

Unilever PLC strengths

Brand TrustDistribution Control

Segment mix

Norfolk Southern Corporation segments

Full profile >

Merchandise

Oligopoly

62%

Intermodal

Oligopoly

25%

Coal

Oligopoly

13%

Unilever PLC segments

Full profile >

Beauty & Wellbeing

Oligopoly

25.1%

Personal Care

Oligopoly

25.9%

Home Care

Oligopoly

23.4%

Foods

Competitive

25.5%

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.