CSX vs. ZTO: CSX vs. ZTO Express (Cayman) Stock Comparison
How do CSX (CSX) and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) 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 ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but CSX is classified in Ground Transportation while ZTO is classified in Air Freight & Logistics.
CSX (CSX) trades as ordinary local shares, while ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | CSX | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | CSX Corporation | ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | China |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Transportation | Transportation |
| GICS Industry | Ground Transportation | Air Freight & Logistics |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Rail Transportation | Air Freight & Logistics |
| Market Capitalization | 90.99 billion USD | 15.53 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 3, 1980 | October 27, 2016 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CSX | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 42.93% | 11.22% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 19.91% | -1.86% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 8.47% | -3.82% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) reports a negative beta of -0.18, suggesting inverse market sensitivity over the measurement window. That is uncommon for ordinary equities and can reflect commodity-linked or hedge-like exposure, but it can also come from statistical noise. CSX (CSX) has a non-negative beta of 1.12.
| Metric | CSX | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 23.05% | 24.57% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.12 | -0.18 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -29.44% | -49.55% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 10.64M | 2.26M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CSX | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.68 | 0.28 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.74 | 0.40 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
CSX (CSX) at 26.39% sits in the top ROE quartile, while ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 16.28% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CSX.
CSX
Transportation industry group
26.39%
- Max
- 45.08%
- CSX
- 26.39%
- Q3
- 22.02%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -10.45%
ZTO
Transportation industry group
16.28%
- Max
- 45.08%
- Q3
- 22.02%
- ZTO
- 16.28%
- 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 ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 19.04%, 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%
ZTO
Transportation industry group
19.04%
- Max
- 50.36%
- Q3
- 21.18%
- ZTO
- 19.04%
- 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 ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 22.19%, 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%
ZTO
Transportation industry group
22.19%
- Max
- 59.18%
- Q3
- 29.30%
- ZTO
- 22.19%
- Median
- 11.50%
- Q1
- 4.62%
- Min
- -8.91%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CSX | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 26.39% | 16.28% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.77% | 7.38% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 23.97% | 19.04% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 39.26% | 22.19% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 47.78% | 25.10% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 10.88% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while CSX (CSX) at -3.08% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in revenue momentum.
EPS Growth
Both CSX (CSX) at -13.97% and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 4.58% 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 | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -3.08% | 10.88% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -1.74% | 11.54% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -13.97% | 4.58% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -7.57% | 10.21% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
CSX (CSX) at 0.84 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 1.67 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
ZTO
Transportation industry group
1.67
- Max
- 2.58
- ZTO
- 1.67
- Q3
- 1.62
- Median
- 1.16
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.22
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both CSX (CSX) at 1.35 and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 0.35 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
CSX
Transportation industry group
1.35
- Max
- 2.75
- Q3
- 1.37
- CSX
- 1.35
- Median
- 0.78
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
ZTO
Transportation industry group
0.35
- Max
- 2.75
- Q3
- 1.37
- Median
- 0.78
- ZTO
- 0.35
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CSX | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.84 | 1.67 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.35 | 0.35 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.50 | -0.62 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
CSX (CSX) at 1.08% pays an industry-typical yield; ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 12.89% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.
CSX
Transportation industry group
1.08%
- Max
- 4.68%
- Q3
- 1.99%
- CSX
- 1.08%
- Median
- 0.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ZTO
Transportation industry group
12.89%
- ZTO
- 12.89%
- Max
- 4.68%
- Q3
- 1.99%
- Median
- 0.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both CSX (CSX) at 28.65% and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 38.36% 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%
ZTO
Transportation industry group
38.36%
- Max
- 100.89%
- Q3
- 41.68%
- ZTO
- 38.36%
- Median
- 20.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CSX | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.08% | 12.89% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 28.65% | 38.36% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both CSX (CSX) at 25.58 and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 11.37 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
ZTO
Transportation industry group
11.37
- Max
- 46.76
- Q3
- 30.87
- Median
- 20.58
- ZTO
- 11.37
- Q1
- 10.44
- Min
- 0.00
P/S Ratio (TTM)
ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 0.29 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while CSX (CSX) at 6.09 prices above its industry range — a wide gap in sales valuation between them.
CSX
Transportation industry group
6.09
- CSX
- 6.09
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.04
ZTO
Transportation industry group
0.29
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.53
- ZTO
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.04
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 1.66 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while CSX (CSX) at 6.29 carries an above-peer premium to book — CSX is pricier on assets.
CSX
Transportation industry group
6.29
- CSX
- 6.29
- Max
- 6.29
- Q3
- 3.39
- Median
- 1.90
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -2.07
ZTO
Transportation industry group
1.66
- Max
- 6.29
- Q3
- 3.39
- Median
- 1.90
- ZTO
- 1.66
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -2.07
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CSX | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 25.58 | 11.37 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 6.09 | 0.29 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.29 | 1.66 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.66% | 41.42% |