DAL vs. NSC: Delta Air Lines vs. Norfolk Southern Stock Comparison
How do Delta Air Lines (DAL) 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
Delta Air Lines (DAL) and Norfolk Southern (NSC) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but DAL is classified in Passenger Airlines while NSC is classified in Ground Transportation.
| Profile Item | DAL | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Delta Air Lines, Inc. | Norfolk Southern Corp. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Transportation | Transportation |
| GICS Industry | Passenger Airlines | Ground Transportation |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Passenger Airlines | Rail Transportation |
| Market Capitalization | 57.37 billion USD | 71.86 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 3, 2007 | June 2, 1982 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | DAL | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 56.32% | 16.63% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 41.15% | 21.35% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 16.27% | 4.94% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | DAL | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 39.27% | 21.75% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.37 | 1.19 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -47.92% | -35.64% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 6.42M | 1.02M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | DAL | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.33 | 0.57 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.19 | 0.86 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 15.91% and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 16.84% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
DAL
Transportation industry group
15.91%
- Max
- 45.08%
- Q3
- 22.02%
- DAL
- 15.91%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -10.45%
NSC
Transportation industry group
16.84%
- Max
- 45.08%
- Q3
- 22.02%
- NSC
- 16.84%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -10.45%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 4.58% and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 20.71% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
DAL
Transportation industry group
4.58%
- Max
- 50.36%
- Q3
- 21.18%
- Median
- 5.58%
- DAL
- 4.58%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- Min
- -11.37%
NSC
Transportation industry group
20.71%
- Max
- 50.36%
- Q3
- 21.18%
- NSC
- 20.71%
- Median
- 5.58%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- Min
- -11.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 35.42% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 7.22%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
DAL
Transportation industry group
7.22%
- Max
- 59.18%
- Q3
- 29.30%
- Median
- 11.50%
- DAL
- 7.22%
- Q1
- 4.62%
- Min
- -8.91%
NSC
Transportation industry group
35.42%
- Max
- 59.18%
- NSC
- 35.42%
- Q3
- 29.30%
- Median
- 11.50%
- Q1
- 4.62%
- Min
- -8.91%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | DAL | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 15.91% | 16.84% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.95% | 6.03% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 4.58% | 20.71% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 7.22% | 35.42% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 17.90% | 44.68% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 2.79% 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.
EPS Growth
Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 43.71% 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 DAL.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | DAL | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 2.79% | 0.47% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 7.80% | -1.50% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 43.71% | 10.20% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 54.92% | -2.79% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 0.90 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 0.40 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for DAL.
DAL
Transportation industry group
0.40
- Max
- 2.58
- Q3
- 1.62
- Median
- 1.16
- Q1
- 0.78
- DAL
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.22
NSC
Transportation industry group
0.90
- Max
- 2.58
- Q3
- 1.62
- Median
- 1.16
- NSC
- 0.90
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.22
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 0.89 and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.02 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
DAL
Transportation industry group
0.89
- Max
- 2.75
- Q3
- 1.37
- DAL
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.78
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
NSC
Transportation industry group
1.02
- Max
- 2.75
- Q3
- 1.37
- NSC
- 1.02
- Median
- 0.78
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | DAL | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.40 | 0.90 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.89 | 1.02 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.15 | 2.68 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 0.94% and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.65% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
DAL
Transportation industry group
0.94%
- Max
- 4.68%
- Q3
- 1.99%
- DAL
- 0.94%
- Median
- 0.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
NSC
Transportation industry group
1.65%
- Max
- 4.68%
- Q3
- 1.99%
- NSC
- 1.65%
- Median
- 0.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 15.52% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 45.26% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
DAL
Transportation industry group
15.52%
- Max
- 100.89%
- Q3
- 41.68%
- Median
- 20.43%
- DAL
- 15.52%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
NSC
Transportation industry group
45.26%
- Max
- 100.89%
- NSC
- 45.26%
- Q3
- 41.68%
- Median
- 20.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | DAL | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.94% | 1.65% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 15.52% | 45.26% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 17.41 and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 26.82 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
DAL
Transportation industry group
17.41
- Max
- 46.76
- Q3
- 30.87
- Median
- 20.58
- DAL
- 17.41
- Q1
- 10.44
- Min
- 0.00
NSC
Transportation industry group
26.82
- Max
- 46.76
- Q3
- 30.87
- NSC
- 26.82
- Median
- 20.58
- Q1
- 10.44
- Min
- 0.00
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 0.80 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 5.54 clears its benchmark range — NSC looks notably rich on sales.
DAL
Transportation industry group
0.80
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- Median
- 0.93
- DAL
- 0.80
- Q1
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.04
NSC
Transportation industry group
5.54
- NSC
- 5.54
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.04
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Delta Air Lines (DAL) at 2.53 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 4.30 carries an above-peer premium to book — NSC is pricier on assets.
DAL
Transportation industry group
2.53
- Max
- 6.29
- Q3
- 3.39
- DAL
- 2.53
- Median
- 1.90
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -2.07
NSC
Transportation industry group
4.30
- Max
- 6.29
- NSC
- 4.30
- Q3
- 3.39
- Median
- 1.90
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -2.07
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | DAL | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 17.41 | 26.82 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.80 | 5.54 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.53 | 4.30 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.34% | 2.25% |