VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

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

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.

ORLY · Nasdaq Global Select Market

Market cap (USD)$79.3B
Gross margin (TTM)51.5%
Operating margin (TTM)19.3%
Net margin (TTM)14.2%
SectorConsumer
IndustryAuto - Parts
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-31
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 O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View ORLY 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 63 / 100 for O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. has 2 segments (52% in DIY Aftermarket Retail); 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: O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. has 7 moat types across 2 domains; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 7 across 4.

Primary market context

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.

DIY Aftermarket Retail

Market

Specialty automotive aftermarket parts retail (DIY channel)

Geography

United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada

Customer

Consumers (do-it-yourself vehicle owners)

Role

Specialty retailer

Revenue share

52%

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

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Ticker / Exchange
ORLY - Nasdaq Global Select Market
VRTX - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$79.3B
$119B
Gross margin (TTM)
51.5%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
19.3%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
14.2%
n/a
Sector
Consumer
Healthcare
Industry
Auto - Parts
Biotechnology
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
DIY Aftermarket Retail
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
63 / 100
99 / 100
Moat domains
Supply, Demand
Legal, Demand, Financial, Supply
Last update
2025-12-31
2026-01-08

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Service Field Network

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. strengths

Supply Chain ControlPhysical Network DensityBrand TrustHabit DefaultScope EconomiesProcurement Inertia

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated strengths

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

Segment mix

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. segments

Full profile >

DIY Aftermarket Retail

Oligopoly

52%

Professional (B2B) Aftermarket Distribution

Competitive

48%

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?

Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.

View the moat stocks list

Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.

View expansion-stage stocks

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.