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CP vs. NSC: Canadian Pacific Kansas City vs. Norfolk Southern Stock Comparison

How do Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) and Norfolk Southern (NSC) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) and Norfolk Southern (NSC) are both classified in the Rail Transportation sub-industry within the broader Ground Transportation industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
Profile ItemCPNSC
NameCanadian Pacific Kansas City LimitedNorfolk Southern Corporation
Country/RegionCanadaUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryGround TransportationGround Transportation
GICS Sub-IndustryRail TransportationRail Transportation
Market Capitalization82.19 billion USD75.11 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateDecember 30, 1983June 2, 1982
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CP
NSC
GSPC
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Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) and Norfolk Southern (NSC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) and Norfolk Southern (NSC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricCPNSC
Total Return (1Y)27.38%20.46%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)5.90%18.26%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.03%6.67%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CP
NSC
GSPC
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Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) and Norfolk Southern (NSC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricCPNSC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.60%20.44%
Beta (5Y)1.121.27
Max Drawdown (5Y)-25.88%-35.64%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.82M1.18M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CP and NSC are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricCPNSC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.040.81
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.621.27

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 8.15% and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 16.99% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

CP

Transportation industry group

8.15%

Max
42.67%
Q3
21.91%
Median
11.31%
CP
8.15%
Q1
1.69%
Min
-15.07%

NSC

Transportation industry group

16.99%

Max
42.67%
Q3
21.91%
NSC
16.99%
Median
11.31%
Q1
1.69%
Min
-15.07%
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Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 25.03% and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 21.02% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

CP

Transportation industry group

25.03%

Max
50.36%
CP
25.03%
Q3
20.85%
Median
5.56%
Q1
0.93%
Min
-11.37%

NSC

Transportation industry group

21.02%

Max
50.36%
NSC
21.02%
Q3
20.85%
Median
5.56%
Q1
0.93%
Min
-11.37%
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Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their net margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 38.98% and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 35.30% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

CP

Transportation industry group

38.98%

Max
53.49%
CP
38.98%
Q3
25.45%
Median
10.71%
Q1
3.19%
Min
-11.50%

NSC

Transportation industry group

35.30%

Max
53.49%
NSC
35.30%
Q3
25.45%
Median
10.71%
Q1
3.19%
Min
-11.50%
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Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricCPNSC
ROE (TTM)8.15%16.99%
ROA (TTM)4.44%5.95%
Net Margin (TTM)25.03%21.02%
Operating Margin (TTM)38.98%35.30%
Gross Margin (TTM)53.40%45.16%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 3.66% and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 0.47% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 13.32% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 10.20% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for CP.

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Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricCPNSC
Revenue Growth (YoY)3.66%0.47%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)19.60%-1.50%
EPS Growth (YoY)13.32%10.20%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)6.16%-2.79%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 0.83 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 0.59 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CP.

CP

Transportation industry group

0.59

Max
2.50
Q3
1.59
Median
1.14
Q1
0.79
CP
0.59
Min
0.28

NSC

Transportation industry group

0.83

Max
2.50
Q3
1.59
Median
1.14
NSC
0.83
Q1
0.79
Min
0.28
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Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 0.53 and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.06 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

CP

Transportation industry group

0.53

Max
2.94
Q3
1.45
Median
0.82
CP
0.53
Q1
0.36
Min
0.00

NSC

Transportation industry group

1.06

Max
2.94
Q3
1.45
NSC
1.06
Median
0.82
Q1
0.36
Min
0.00
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Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricCPNSC
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.590.83
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.531.06
Net Debt / EBITDA3.002.84

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 1.01% and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.60% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CP

Transportation industry group

1.01%

Max
3.74%
Q3
1.77%
CP
1.01%
Median
0.67%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

NSC

Transportation industry group

1.60%

Max
3.74%
Q3
1.77%
NSC
1.60%
Median
0.67%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 22.14% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 46.08% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CP

Transportation industry group

22.14%

Max
100.88%
Q3
44.15%
CP
22.14%
Median
20.14%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

NSC

Transportation industry group

46.08%

Max
100.88%
NSC
46.08%
Q3
44.15%
Median
20.14%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricCPNSC
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.01%1.60%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)22.14%46.08%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 30.26 and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 28.83 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

CP

Transportation industry group

30.26

Max
62.08
Q3
34.61
CP
30.26
Median
20.36
Q1
12.48
Min
2.19

NSC

Transportation industry group

28.83

Max
62.08
Q3
34.61
NSC
28.83
Median
20.36
Q1
12.48
Min
2.19
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Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Investors are paying well above the peer range per dollar of sales for both Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 5.32 and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 5.99 — each P/S ratio clears its industry’s benchmark range.

CP

Transportation industry group

5.32

CP
5.32
Max
4.54
Q3
2.43
Median
1.30
Q1
0.65
Min
0.07

NSC

Transportation industry group

5.99

NSC
5.99
Max
4.54
Q3
2.43
Median
1.30
Q1
0.65
Min
0.07
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Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) at 2.47 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 4.62 carries an above-peer premium to book — NSC is pricier on assets.

CP

Transportation industry group

2.47

Max
8.71
Q3
4.24
CP
2.47
Median
2.00
Q1
1.17
Min
-2.47

NSC

Transportation industry group

4.62

Max
8.71
NSC
4.62
Q3
4.24
Median
2.00
Q1
1.17
Min
-2.47
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Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricCPNSC
P/E Ratio (TTM)30.2628.83
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.325.99
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.474.62
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.65%1.84%