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CSX vs. UNP: CSX vs. Union Pacific Stock Comparison

How do CSX (CSX) and Union Pacific (UNP) 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 Union Pacific (UNP) 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 Union Pacific (UNP)
Profile ItemCSXUNP
NameCSX CorporationUnion Pacific Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryGround TransportationGround Transportation
GICS Sub-IndustryRail TransportationRail Transportation
Market Capitalization92.92 billion USD174.47 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateNovember 3, 1980January 2, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CSX
UNP
GSPC
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CSX (CSX) vs. Union Pacific (UNP), 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 Union Pacific (UNP). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for CSX (CSX) and Union Pacific (UNP). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CSX (CSX) and Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricCSXUNP
Total Return (1Y)39.94%35.59%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)19.32%10.98%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)9.65%7.61%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CSX
UNP
GSPC
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CSX (CSX) vs. Union Pacific (UNP), 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 Union Pacific (UNP). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CSX (CSX) and Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricCSXUNP
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.99%22.14%
Beta (5Y)1.200.95
Max Drawdown (5Y)-29.44%-31.83%
Avg. Volume (3M)12.66M2.97M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CSX and UNP 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 Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricCSXUNP
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.561.43
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.492.29

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both CSX (CSX) at 24.36% and Union Pacific (UNP) at 39.70% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

CSX

Transportation industry group

24.36%

Max
42.67%
CSX
24.36%
Q3
21.91%
Median
11.31%
Q1
1.69%
Min
-15.07%

UNP

Transportation industry group

39.70%

Max
42.67%
UNP
39.70%
Q3
21.91%
Median
11.31%
Q1
1.69%
Min
-15.07%
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CSX (CSX) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): 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 Union Pacific (UNP) at 28.85% 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%

UNP

Transportation industry group

28.85%

Max
50.36%
UNP
28.85%
Q3
20.85%
Median
5.56%
Q1
0.93%
Min
-11.37%
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CSX (CSX) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their net margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both CSX (CSX) at 38.42% and Union Pacific (UNP) at 40.98% 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%

UNP

Transportation industry group

40.98%

Max
53.49%
UNP
40.98%
Q3
25.45%
Median
10.71%
Q1
3.19%
Min
-11.50%
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CSX (CSX) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CSX (CSX) and Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricCSXUNP
ROE (TTM)24.36%39.70%
ROA (TTM)7.38%9.27%
Net Margin (TTM)22.21%28.85%
Operating Margin (TTM)38.42%40.98%
Gross Margin (TTM)47.07%56.29%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.07% 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. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both CSX (CSX) at -13.97% and Union Pacific (UNP) at 8.03% 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. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CSX (CSX) and Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricCSXUNP
Revenue Growth (YoY)-3.08%1.07%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.74%-0.49%
EPS Growth (YoY)-13.97%8.03%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-7.57%2.24%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CSX (CSX) at 0.82 and Union Pacific (UNP) at 0.99 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

UNP

Transportation industry group

0.99

Max
2.50
Q3
1.59
Median
1.14
UNP
0.99
Q1
0.79
Min
0.28
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CSX (CSX) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

CSX (CSX) at 1.38 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.51 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CSX

Transportation industry group

1.38

Max
2.94
Q3
1.45
CSX
1.38
Median
0.82
Q1
0.36
Min
0.00

UNP

Transportation industry group

1.51

Max
2.94
UNP
1.51
Q3
1.45
Median
0.82
Q1
0.36
Min
0.00
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CSX (CSX) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for CSX (CSX) and Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricCSXUNP
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.820.99
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.381.51
Net Debt / EBITDA2.642.26

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.85% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while CSX (CSX) at 1.08% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, UNP the richer one.

CSX

Transportation industry group

1.08%

Max
3.74%
Q3
1.77%
CSX
1.08%
Median
0.67%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UNP

Transportation industry group

1.85%

Max
3.74%
UNP
1.85%
Q3
1.77%
Median
0.67%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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CSX (CSX) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): 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 Union Pacific (UNP) at 44.70% 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%

UNP

Transportation industry group

44.70%

Max
100.88%
UNP
44.70%
Q3
44.15%
Median
20.14%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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CSX (CSX) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CSX (CSX) and Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricCSXUNP
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.08%1.85%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)31.40%44.70%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both CSX (CSX) at 29.16 and Union Pacific (UNP) at 23.76 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

UNP

Transportation industry group

23.76

Max
62.08
Q3
34.61
UNP
23.76
Median
20.36
Q1
12.48
Min
2.19
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CSX (CSX) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): 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 Union Pacific (UNP) at 6.87 — 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

UNP

Transportation industry group

6.87

UNP
6.87
Max
4.54
Q3
2.43
Median
1.30
Q1
0.65
Min
0.07
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CSX (CSX) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: CSX (CSX) at 6.60 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Union Pacific (UNP) at 8.98 prices even higher, above its industry range.

CSX

Transportation industry group

6.60

Max
8.71
CSX
6.60
Q3
4.24
Median
2.00
Q1
1.17
Min
-2.47

UNP

Transportation industry group

8.98

UNP
8.98
Max
8.71
Q3
4.24
Median
2.00
Q1
1.17
Min
-2.47
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CSX (CSX) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CSX (CSX) and Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricCSXUNP
P/E Ratio (TTM)29.1623.76
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.406.87
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.608.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.10%2.71%