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CSX vs. NSC: CSX vs. Norfolk Southern Stock Comparison

How do CSX (CSX) 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

CSX (CSX) 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 CSX (CSX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
Profile ItemCSXNSC
NameCSX CorporationNorfolk Southern Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryGround TransportationGround Transportation
GICS Sub-IndustryRail TransportationRail Transportation
Market Capitalization92.92 billion USD75.11 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateNovember 3, 1980June 2, 1982
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CSX
NSC
GSPC
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CSX (CSX) 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 CSX (CSX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CSX (CSX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricCSXNSC
Total Return (1Y)39.94%20.46%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)19.32%18.26%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)9.65%6.67%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CSX
NSC
GSPC
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CSX (CSX) 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 CSX (CSX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CSX (CSX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricCSXNSC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.99%20.44%
Beta (5Y)1.201.27
Max Drawdown (5Y)-29.44%-35.64%
Avg. Volume (3M)12.66M1.18M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CSX 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 CSX (CSX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricCSXNSC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.560.81
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.491.27

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

CSX (CSX) at 24.36% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 16.99% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CSX.

CSX

Transportation industry group

24.36%

Max
42.67%
CSX
24.36%
Q3
21.91%
Median
11.31%
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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CSX (CSX) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both CSX (CSX) at 22.21% 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.

CSX

Transportation industry group

22.21%

Max
50.36%
CSX
22.21%
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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CSX (CSX) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their net margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both CSX (CSX) at 38.42% 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.

CSX

Transportation industry group

38.42%

Max
53.49%
CSX
38.42%
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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CSX (CSX) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CSX (CSX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricCSXNSC
ROE (TTM)24.36%16.99%
ROA (TTM)7.38%5.95%
Net Margin (TTM)22.21%21.02%
Operating Margin (TTM)38.42%35.30%
Gross Margin (TTM)47.07%45.16%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 0.47% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while CSX (CSX) at -3.08% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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CSX (CSX) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both CSX (CSX) at -13.97% and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 10.20% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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CSX (CSX) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CSX (CSX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricCSXNSC
Revenue Growth (YoY)-3.08%0.47%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.74%-1.50%
EPS Growth (YoY)-13.97%10.20%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-7.57%-2.79%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CSX (CSX) at 0.82 and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 0.83 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

CSX

Transportation industry group

0.82

Max
2.50
Q3
1.59
Median
1.14
CSX
0.82
Q1
0.79
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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CSX (CSX) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both CSX (CSX) at 1.38 and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.06 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

CSX

Transportation industry group

1.38

Max
2.94
Q3
1.45
CSX
1.38
Median
0.82
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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CSX (CSX) 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 CSX (CSX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricCSXNSC
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.820.83
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.381.06
Net Debt / EBITDA2.642.84

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both CSX (CSX) at 1.08% and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.60% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CSX

Transportation industry group

1.08%

Max
3.74%
Q3
1.77%
CSX
1.08%
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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CSX (CSX) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

CSX (CSX) at 31.40% 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.

CSX

Transportation industry group

31.40%

Max
100.88%
Q3
44.15%
CSX
31.40%
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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CSX (CSX) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CSX (CSX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricCSXNSC
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.08%1.60%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)31.40%46.08%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both CSX (CSX) at 29.16 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.

CSX

Transportation industry group

29.16

Max
62.08
Q3
34.61
CSX
29.16
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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CSX (CSX) 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 CSX (CSX) at 6.40 and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 5.99 — each P/S ratio clears its industry’s benchmark range.

CSX

Transportation industry group

6.40

CSX
6.40
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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CSX (CSX) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both CSX (CSX) at 6.60 and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 4.62 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

CSX

Transportation industry group

6.60

Max
8.71
CSX
6.60
Q3
4.24
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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CSX (CSX) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CSX (CSX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricCSXNSC
P/E Ratio (TTM)29.1628.83
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.405.99
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.604.62
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.10%1.84%