VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

L'Oreal S.A. vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

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

L'Oreal S.A.

OR · Euronext Paris

Market cap (USD)$205.7B
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

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

VRTX · NASDAQ

Market cap (USD)$119B
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorHealthcare
IndustryBiotechnology
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-08
Moat score
99/ 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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View VRTX analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated leads (99 / 100 vs 80 / 100 for L'Oreal S.A.).
  • Segment focus: L'Oreal S.A. has 4 segments (37% in Consumer Products Division); Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 3 segments (99.9% in Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: L'Oreal S.A. has 7 moat types across 3 domains; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 7 across 4.

Primary market context

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%

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators

Market

CFTR modulator therapies for cystic fibrosis

Geography

U.S., Europe, Australia, Canada

Customer

Patients (via specialty pharmacies/payers); CF care centers

Role

Drug developer/manufacturer

Revenue share

99.9%

Side-by-side metrics

L'Oreal S.A.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Ticker / Exchange
OR - Euronext Paris
VRTX - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$205.7B
$119B
Gross margin (TTM)
74.1%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
19.5%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
14.6%
n/a
Sector
Consumer
Healthcare
Industry
Household & Personal Products
Biotechnology
HQ country
FR
US
Primary segment
Consumer Products Division
Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators
Market structure
Oligopoly
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
n/a
70%-78% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
80 / 100
99 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Legal, Demand, Financial, Supply
Last update
2025-12-31
2026-01-08

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Service Field Network

L'Oreal S.A. strengths

Brand TrustDistribution ControlCapex Knowhow ScaleContractual ExclusivityCompliance AdvantageTraining Org Change Costs

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated strengths

IP Choke PointGovernment Contracting RelationshipsSwitching Costs GeneralBenchmark Pricing PowerRegulated Standards PipeCapacity Moat

Segment mix

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%

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated segments

Full profile >

Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators

Quasi-Monopoly

99.9%

Hemoglobinopathies Gene Therapy (CASGEVY)

Oligopoly

0.1%

Acute Pain (JOURNAVX)

Competitive

n/a

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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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.