AXON vs. NSC: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at AXON and NSC, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | AXON | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Axon Enterprise, Inc. | Norfolk Southern Corporation |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Ground Transportation |
| Market Capitalization | 57.10 billion USD | 66.56 billion USD |
| Exchange | NasdaqGS | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 19, 2001 | June 2, 1982 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of AXON 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 | AXON | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 0.95% | -0.56% |
| 13-Week Price Return | -9.73% | 14.07% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 34.78% | 34.38% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 72.85% | 21.69% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 1.36% | -1.26% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 22.39% | 26.38% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 0.54M | 1.43M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 0.61M | 1.98M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 51.80% | 18.08% |
| Beta | 1.39 | 1.34 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
AXON
13.43%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 37.11%
- Q3
- 20.14%
- Median
- 11.72%
- Q1
- 6.30%
- Min
- -6.24%
AXON’s Return on Equity of 13.43% is on par with the norm for the Aerospace & Defense 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)
AXON
13.64%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 13.66%
- Q3
- 8.61%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- 4.92%
- Min
- 1.01%
A Net Profit Margin of 13.64% places AXON in the upper quartile for the Aerospace & Defense industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
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)
AXON
-1.26%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 22.35%
- Q3
- 12.83%
- Median
- 9.29%
- Q1
- 6.38%
- Min
- -2.15%
AXON has a negative Operating Profit Margin of -1.26%. This signifies the company is unprofitable at the operational level, as its core business expenses exceed its revenue.
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 | AXON | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 13.43% | 23.35% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 6.28% | 7.66% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 13.64% | 27.51% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | -1.26% | 41.45% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 60.47% | 51.67% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
AXON
2.95
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 3.35
- Q3
- 2.03
- Median
- 1.24
- Q1
- 1.04
- Min
- 0.77
AXON’s Current Ratio of 2.95 is in the upper quartile for the Aerospace & Defense industry. This signifies a strong liquidity position, suggesting the company is well-equipped to cover its immediate liabilities compared to its 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)
AXON
0.73
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 1.72
- Q3
- 0.96
- Median
- 0.63
- Q1
- 0.37
- Min
- 0.03
AXON’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.73 is typical for the Aerospace & Defense industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
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)
AXON
888.35
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 36.57
- Q3
- 19.08
- Median
- 7.25
- Q1
- 2.65
- Min
- -7.63
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 888.35, AXON demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Aerospace & Defense industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
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 | AXON | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.95 | 0.79 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 2.56 | 0.71 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.73 | 1.17 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 888.35 | 5.21 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
AXON
0.00%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 2.72%
- Q3
- 1.45%
- Median
- 0.48%
- Q1
- 0.08%
- Min
- 0.00%
AXON currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
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)
AXON
0.00%
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 110.40%
- Q3
- 50.43%
- Median
- 17.11%
- Q1
- 0.46%
- Min
- 0.00%
AXON has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
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 | AXON | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 1.68% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 36.42% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
AXON
175.00
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 67.20
- Q3
- 55.74
- Median
- 33.28
- Q1
- 27.49
- Min
- 15.02
At 175.00, AXON’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Aerospace & Defense industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
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)
AXON
23.88
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 9.06
- Q3
- 4.87
- Median
- 2.47
- Q1
- 1.61
- Min
- 0.33
With a P/S Ratio of 23.88, AXON trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Aerospace & Defense industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
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)
AXON
23.59
Aerospace & Defense Industry
- Max
- 14.90
- Q3
- 8.93
- Median
- 4.70
- Q1
- 3.03
- Min
- 0.83
At 23.59, AXON’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Aerospace & Defense industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
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 | AXON | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 175.00 | 21.64 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 23.88 | 5.95 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 23.59 | 3.90 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 157.49 | 35.81 |