VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Friday, January 2, 2026
Stock Comparison
Norfolk Southern Corporation vs Waste Management, 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
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 analysisWaste Management, Inc.
WM · New York Stock Exchange
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into Waste Management, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View WM analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score gap: Waste Management, Inc. leads (79 / 100 vs 70 / 100 for Norfolk Southern Corporation).
- Segment focus: Norfolk Southern Corporation has 3 segments (62% in Merchandise); Waste Management, Inc. has 4 segments (82.2% in Collection and Disposal).
- Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
- Moat breadth: Norfolk Southern Corporation has 4 moat types across 3 domains; Waste Management, Inc. has 7 across 3.
Primary market context
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Merchandise
Eastern U.S. freight rail transportation for industrial & consumer goods
United States (Southeast/East/Midwest; NS network + interchanges)
Manufacturers, producers, and distributors
Rail carrier
62%
Waste Management, Inc.
Collection and Disposal
Municipal, commercial, and industrial solid waste collection, transfer, and landfill disposal
North America (primarily US and Canada)
Municipalities and end-customers (residential, commercial, industrial) via direct and contract channels
Integrated hauler + transfer + landfill owner/operator
82.2%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
Norfolk Southern Corporation strengths
Waste Management, Inc. strengths
Segment mix
Norfolk Southern Corporation segments
Full profile >Merchandise
Oligopoly
Intermodal
Oligopoly
Coal
Oligopoly
Waste Management, Inc. segments
Full profile >Collection and Disposal
Oligopoly
Recycling Processing and Sales
Competitive
WM Renewable Energy
Competitive
WM Healthcare Solutions
Oligopoly
Want the full wide moat stocks list?
Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.
View the moat stocks listCuration & 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.