AER vs. NSC: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at AER and NSC, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | AER | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | AerCap Holdings N.V. | Norfolk Southern Corporation |
| Country | Ireland | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry | Trading Companies & Distributors | Ground Transportation |
| Market Capitalization | 21.73 billion USD | 66.56 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 21, 2006 | June 2, 1982 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of AER and NSC by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | AER | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | -1.92% | -0.56% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 6.83% | 14.07% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 23.51% | 34.38% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 29.00% | 21.69% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 0.69% | -1.26% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 27.31% | 26.38% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 1.26M | 1.43M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 1.40M | 1.98M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 18.28% | 18.08% |
| Beta | 1.14 | 1.34 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
AER
17.07%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 32.99%
- Q3
- 19.66%
- Median
- 13.72%
- Q1
- 9.74%
- Min
- -0.34%
AER’s Return on Equity of 17.07% is on par with the norm for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
NSC
23.35%
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 23.35%
- Q3
- 13.74%
- Median
- 9.05%
- Q1
- 6.86%
- Min
- 1.73%
In the upper quartile for the Ground Transportation industry, NSC’s Return on Equity of 23.35% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
AER
39.91%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 16.11%
- Q3
- 9.48%
- Median
- 5.89%
- Q1
- 3.68%
- Min
- -1.09%
AER’s Net Profit Margin of 39.91% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This demonstrates outstanding operational efficiency and a strong competitive advantage in converting revenue into profit.
NSC
27.51%
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 32.19%
- Q3
- 17.08%
- Median
- 7.19%
- Q1
- 4.45%
- Min
- -5.54%
A Net Profit Margin of 27.51% places NSC in the upper quartile for the Ground Transportation industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
AER
63.19%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 26.26%
- Q3
- 14.59%
- Median
- 7.05%
- Q1
- 4.94%
- Min
- -8.06%
AER’s Operating Profit Margin of 63.19% is exceptionally high, placing it well above the typical range for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This demonstrates outstanding efficiency in managing its core operations, which can be a result of strong pricing power or superior cost control.
NSC
41.45%
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 42.90%
- Q3
- 23.80%
- Median
- 10.93%
- Q1
- 7.06%
- Min
- -12.94%
An Operating Profit Margin of 41.45% places NSC in the upper quartile for the Ground Transportation industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | AER | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 17.07% | 23.35% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 4.05% | 7.66% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 39.91% | 27.51% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 63.19% | 41.45% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 91.01% | 51.67% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
AER
1.50
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 3.32
- Q3
- 2.27
- Median
- 1.60
- Q1
- 1.41
- Min
- 0.26
AER’s Current Ratio of 1.50 aligns with the median group of the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
NSC
0.79
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 2.00
- Q3
- 1.31
- Median
- 0.98
- Q1
- 0.74
- Min
- 0.35
NSC’s Current Ratio of 0.79 aligns with the median group of the Ground Transportation industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
AER
2.57
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 1.93
- Q3
- 1.24
- Median
- 0.79
- Q1
- 0.61
- Min
- 0.01
With a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 2.57, AER operates with exceptionally high leverage compared to the Trading Companies & Distributors industry norm. This suggests an aggressive reliance on debt financing, which can magnify returns but also significantly elevates financial risk.
NSC
1.17
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 2.51
- Q3
- 1.48
- Median
- 1.02
- Q1
- 0.48
- Min
- 0.00
NSC’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.17 is typical for the Ground Transportation industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
AER
2.14
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 15.13
- Q3
- 7.93
- Median
- 5.67
- Q1
- 2.04
- Min
- -1.67
AER’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 2.14 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
NSC
5.21
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 59.80
- Q3
- 25.78
- Median
- 8.23
- Q1
- 2.52
- Min
- -24.57
NSC’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 5.21 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Ground Transportation industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | AER | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.50 | 0.79 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.62 | 0.71 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 2.57 | 1.17 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 2.14 | 5.21 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
AER
0.89%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 5.25%
- Q3
- 2.95%
- Median
- 2.06%
- Q1
- 1.11%
- Min
- 0.00%
AER’s Dividend Yield of 0.89% is in the lower quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.
NSC
1.68%
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 5.29%
- Q3
- 2.57%
- Median
- 1.59%
- Q1
- 0.71%
- Min
- 0.00%
NSC’s Dividend Yield of 1.68% is consistent with its peers in the Ground Transportation industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
AER
6.56%
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 136.12%
- Q3
- 71.34%
- Median
- 47.49%
- Q1
- 22.56%
- Min
- 0.00%
AER’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 6.56% is in the lower quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This suggests a conservative dividend policy, with a strategic focus on reinvesting profits for future growth.
NSC
36.42%
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 149.12%
- Q3
- 75.08%
- Median
- 41.35%
- Q1
- 16.42%
- Min
- 0.00%
NSC’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 36.42% is within the typical range for the Ground Transportation industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | AER | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.89% | 1.68% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 6.56% | 36.42% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
AER
7.41
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 42.69
- Q3
- 25.21
- Median
- 16.99
- Q1
- 13.13
- Min
- 5.35
In the lower quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry, AER’s P/E Ratio of 7.41 suggests the stock may be undervalued compared to its peers, potentially presenting an attractive entry point for investors.
NSC
21.64
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 39.04
- Q3
- 24.45
- Median
- 17.51
- Q1
- 12.92
- Min
- 5.87
NSC’s P/E Ratio of 21.64 is within the middle range for the Ground Transportation industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
AER
2.96
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 4.90
- Q3
- 2.71
- Median
- 1.06
- Q1
- 0.70
- Min
- 0.30
AER’s P/S Ratio of 2.96 is in the upper echelon for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
NSC
5.95
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 2.82
- Q3
- 2.22
- Median
- 1.41
- Q1
- 0.88
- Min
- 0.24
With a P/S Ratio of 5.95, NSC trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Ground Transportation industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
AER
1.18
Trading Companies & Distributors Industry
- Max
- 7.55
- Q3
- 4.63
- Median
- 2.09
- Q1
- 1.30
- Min
- 0.31
AER’s P/B Ratio of 1.18 is in the lower quartile for the Trading Companies & Distributors industry. From a value investing perspective, this is favorable, as it suggests the stock is trading at a discount to its net asset value and may offer a greater margin of safety.
NSC
3.90
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 5.27
- Q3
- 3.03
- Median
- 1.40
- Q1
- 1.18
- Min
- 0.67
NSC’s P/B Ratio of 3.90 is in the upper tier for the Ground Transportation industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | AER | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 7.41 | 21.64 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 2.96 | 5.95 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 1.18 | 3.90 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 25.35 | 35.81 |