VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

Safran vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

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

Safran

SAF · Euronext Paris

Market cap (USD)$133B
Gross margin (TTM)32.8%
Operating margin (TTM)14.4%
Net margin (TTM)10.8%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryAerospace & Defense
CountryFR
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
74/ 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 Safran's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View SAF 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 74 / 100 for Safran).
  • Segment focus: Safran has 3 segments (50% in Propulsion); Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 3 segments (99.9% in Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Strong vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: Safran has 8 moat types across 3 domains; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 7 across 4.

Primary market context

Safran

Propulsion

Market

Aircraft propulsion (commercial, military and helicopter engines) and engine aftermarket (spares, MRO, RPFH)

Geography

Global

Customer

Aircraft OEMs, airlines/lessors, MRO operators, and militaries

Role

Engine OEM + aftermarket service provider (incl. CFM JV participation)

Revenue share

50%

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

Safran
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Ticker / Exchange
SAF - Euronext Paris
VRTX - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$133B
$119B
Gross margin (TTM)
32.8%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
14.4%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
10.8%
n/a
Sector
Industrials
Healthcare
Industry
Aerospace & Defense
Biotechnology
HQ country
FR
US
Primary segment
Propulsion
Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators
Market structure
Oligopoly
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
n/a
70%-78% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Strong
Moat score
74 / 100
99 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Legal, Demand, Financial, Supply
Last update
2025-12-28
2026-01-08

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Regulated Standards PipeService Field NetworkGovernment Contracting Relationships

Safran strengths

Installed Base ConsumablesLong Term ContractsCapex Knowhow ScaleDesign In QualificationOperational Excellence

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated strengths

IP Choke PointSwitching Costs GeneralBenchmark Pricing PowerCapacity Moat

Segment mix

Safran segments

Full profile >

Propulsion

Oligopoly

50%

Equipment & Defense

Oligopoly

38.9%

Aircraft Interiors

Competitive

11.1%

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.