CSX vs. ODFL: CSX vs. Old Dominion Freight Line Stock Comparison
How do CSX (CSX) and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) 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 Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) both belong to the Ground Transportation industry, though CSX is classified under Rail Transportation while ODFL falls under Cargo Ground Transportation.
| Profile Item | CSX | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Name | CSX Corporation | Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Transportation | Transportation |
| GICS Industry | Ground Transportation | Ground Transportation |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Rail Transportation | Cargo Ground Transportation |
| Market Capitalization | 90.99 billion USD | 33.98 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | November 3, 1980 | October 24, 1991 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CSX | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 42.93% | 22.71% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 19.91% | -3.43% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 8.47% | -0.10% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CSX | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 23.05% | 38.79% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.12 | 1.14 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -29.44% | -45.18% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 10.64M | 1.83M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CSX | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.68 | 0.48 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.74 | 0.70 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both CSX (CSX) at 26.39% and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 26.01% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
CSX
Transportation industry group
26.39%
- Max
- 45.08%
- CSX
- 26.39%
- Q3
- 22.02%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -10.45%
ODFL
Transportation industry group
26.01%
- Max
- 45.08%
- ODFL
- 26.01%
- Q3
- 22.02%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -10.45%
Net Margin (TTM)
CSX (CSX) at 23.97% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 20.08%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
CSX
Transportation industry group
23.97%
- Max
- 50.36%
- CSX
- 23.97%
- Q3
- 21.18%
- Median
- 5.58%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- Min
- -11.37%
ODFL
Transportation industry group
20.08%
- Max
- 50.36%
- Q3
- 21.18%
- ODFL
- 20.08%
- Median
- 5.58%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- Min
- -11.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)
CSX (CSX) at 39.26% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 28.52%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
CSX
Transportation industry group
39.26%
- Max
- 59.18%
- CSX
- 39.26%
- Q3
- 29.30%
- Median
- 11.50%
- Q1
- 4.62%
- Min
- -8.91%
ODFL
Transportation industry group
28.52%
- Max
- 59.18%
- Q3
- 29.30%
- ODFL
- 28.52%
- Median
- 11.50%
- Q1
- 4.62%
- Min
- -8.91%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CSX | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 26.39% | 26.01% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.77% | 16.59% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 23.97% | 20.08% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 39.26% | 28.52% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 47.78% | 39.88% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both CSX (CSX) at -3.08% and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at -5.48% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.
EPS Growth
Both CSX (CSX) at -13.97% and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at -11.68% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CSX | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -3.08% | -5.48% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -1.74% | -4.24% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -13.97% | -11.68% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -7.57% | -7.37% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
CSX (CSX) at 0.84 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 2.04 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.
CSX
Transportation industry group
0.84
- Max
- 2.58
- Q3
- 1.62
- Median
- 1.16
- CSX
- 0.84
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.22
ODFL
Transportation industry group
2.04
- Max
- 2.58
- ODFL
- 2.04
- Q3
- 1.62
- Median
- 1.16
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.22
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 0.00 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while CSX (CSX) at 1.35 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
CSX
Transportation industry group
1.35
- Max
- 2.75
- Q3
- 1.37
- CSX
- 1.35
- Median
- 0.78
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
ODFL
Transportation industry group
0.00
- Max
- 2.75
- Q3
- 1.37
- Median
- 0.78
- Q1
- 0.35
- ODFL
- 0.00
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CSX | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.84 | 2.04 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.35 | 0.00 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.50 | -0.24 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both CSX (CSX) at 1.08% and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 0.67% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
CSX
Transportation industry group
1.08%
- Max
- 4.68%
- Q3
- 1.99%
- CSX
- 1.08%
- Median
- 0.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ODFL
Transportation industry group
0.67%
- Max
- 4.68%
- Q3
- 1.99%
- Median
- 0.74%
- ODFL
- 0.67%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both CSX (CSX) at 28.65% and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 20.65% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
CSX
Transportation industry group
28.65%
- Max
- 100.89%
- Q3
- 41.68%
- CSX
- 28.65%
- Median
- 20.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ODFL
Transportation industry group
20.65%
- Max
- 100.89%
- Q3
- 41.68%
- ODFL
- 20.65%
- Median
- 20.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CSX | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.08% | 0.67% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 28.65% | 20.65% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both CSX (CSX) at 25.58 and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 29.61 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
25.58
- Max
- 46.76
- Q3
- 30.87
- CSX
- 25.58
- Median
- 20.58
- Q1
- 10.44
- Min
- 0.00
ODFL
Transportation industry group
29.61
- Max
- 46.76
- Q3
- 30.87
- ODFL
- 29.61
- Median
- 20.58
- Q1
- 10.44
- Min
- 0.00
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Investors are paying well above the peer range per dollar of sales for both CSX (CSX) at 6.09 and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 5.87 — each P/S ratio clears its industry’s benchmark range.
CSX
Transportation industry group
6.09
- CSX
- 6.09
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.04
ODFL
Transportation industry group
5.87
- ODFL
- 5.87
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.04
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: CSX (CSX) at 6.29 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) at 7.29 prices even higher, above its industry range.
CSX
Transportation industry group
6.29
- CSX
- 6.29
- Max
- 6.29
- Q3
- 3.39
- Median
- 1.90
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -2.07
ODFL
Transportation industry group
7.29
- ODFL
- 7.29
- Max
- 6.29
- Q3
- 3.39
- Median
- 1.90
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -2.07
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CSX | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 25.58 | 29.61 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 6.09 | 5.87 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.29 | 7.29 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.66% | 2.93% |