VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

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Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

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

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

TMO · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$234.6B
Gross margin (TTM)39.8%
Operating margin (TTM)18.2%
Net margin (TTM)15%
SectorHealthcare
IndustryMedical - Diagnostics & Research
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-22
Moat score
64/ 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 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View TMO 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 64 / 100 for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.).
  • Segment focus: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has 4 segments (53.6% in Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services); Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 3 segments (99.9% in Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators).
  • Primary market structure: Competitive vs Quasi-Monopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has 8 moat types across 3 domains; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has 7 across 4.

Primary market context

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services

Market

Laboratory supplies distribution/market channel plus outsourced biopharma services (CDMO/CRO)

Geography

Global

Customer

Pharma & biotech; academic/government labs; industrial and clinical laboratories

Role

Distributor/market channel and outsourced services provider

Revenue share

53.6%

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

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Ticker / Exchange
TMO - New York Stock Exchange
VRTX - NASDAQ
Market cap (USD)
$234.6B
$119B
Gross margin (TTM)
39.8%
n/a
Operating margin (TTM)
18.2%
n/a
Net margin (TTM)
15%
n/a
Sector
Healthcare
Healthcare
Industry
Medical - Diagnostics & Research
Biotechnology
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services
Cystic Fibrosis CFTR Modulators
Market structure
Competitive
Quasi-Monopoly
Market share
n/a
70%-78% (reported)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
64 / 100
99 / 100
Moat domains
Demand, Supply, Legal
Legal, Demand, Financial, Supply
Last update
2025-12-22
2026-01-08

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Service Field NetworkRegulated Standards PipeCapacity Moat

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. strengths

Installed Base ConsumablesFormat Lock InBrand TrustDistribution ControlProcurement Inertia

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated strengths

IP Choke PointGovernment Contracting RelationshipsSwitching Costs GeneralBenchmark Pricing Power

Segment mix

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. segments

Full profile >

Life Sciences Solutions

Oligopoly

19%

Analytical Instruments

Oligopoly

17%

Specialty Diagnostics

Oligopoly

10.4%

Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services

Competitive

53.6%

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

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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.