VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

Stock Comparison

Norfolk Southern Corporation vs United Rentals, Inc.

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

United Rentals, Inc.

URI · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$54.3B
Gross margin (TTM)35.9%
Operating margin (TTM)25.1%
Net margin (TTM)15.8%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryRental & Leasing Services
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-01
Moat score
63/ 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 United Rentals, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View URI analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Norfolk Southern Corporation leads (70 / 100 vs 63 / 100 for United Rentals, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Norfolk Southern Corporation has 3 segments (62% in Merchandise); United Rentals, Inc. has 2 segments (70.7% in General Rentals).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: Norfolk Southern Corporation has 4 moat types across 3 domains; United Rentals, Inc. has 9 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%

United Rentals, Inc.

General Rentals

Market

Construction & industrial equipment rental (general line)

Geography

United States and Canada

Customer

Construction and industrial companies, manufacturers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners

Role

Equipment rental provider / fleet operator

Revenue share

70.7%

Side-by-side metrics

Norfolk Southern Corporation
United Rentals, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
NSC - New York Stock Exchange
URI - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$65B
$54.3B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
35.9%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
25.1%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
15.8%
Sector
Industrials
Industrials
Industry
Railroads
Rental & Leasing Services
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Merchandise
General Rentals
Market structure
Oligopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
9.5%-11% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
70 / 100
63 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Legal, Demand
Supply, Demand, Legal
Last update
2026-01-02
2026-01-01

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Physical Network Density

Norfolk Southern Corporation strengths

Permits Rights Of WayScale Economies Unit CostSwitching Costs General

United Rentals, Inc. strengths

Preferential Input AccessData Workflow LockinOperational ExcellenceBrand TrustService Field NetworkCompliance AdvantageScope EconomiesCapacity Moat

Segment mix

Norfolk Southern Corporation segments

Full profile >

Merchandise

Oligopoly

62%

Intermodal

Oligopoly

25%

Coal

Oligopoly

13%

United Rentals, Inc. segments

Full profile >

General Rentals

Competitive

70.7%

Specialty

Competitive

29.3%

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.