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EXPD vs. NSC: Expeditors Intl of Washington vs. Norfolk Southern Stock Comparison

How do Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) 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

Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) and Norfolk Southern (NSC) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but EXPD is classified in Air Freight & Logistics while NSC is classified in Ground Transportation.

Company profile comparison for Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
Profile ItemEXPDNSC
NameExpeditors International of Washington Inc.Norfolk Southern Corp.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryAir Freight & LogisticsGround Transportation
GICS Sub-IndustryAir Freight & LogisticsRail Transportation
Market Capitalization23.84 billion USD71.86 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateSeptember 26, 1984June 2, 1982
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

EXPD
NSC
GSPC
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Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) 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 Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) and Norfolk Southern (NSC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricEXPDNSC
Total Return (1Y)38.17%16.63%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)19.62%21.35%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)9.71%4.94%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricEXPDNSC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)29.21%21.75%
Beta (5Y)1.081.19
Max Drawdown (5Y)-35.62%-35.64%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.06M1.02M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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EXPD 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 Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricEXPDNSC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.160.57
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.600.86

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 45.08% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 16.84% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for EXPD.

EXPD

Transportation industry group

45.08%

EXPD
45.08%
Max
45.08%
Q3
22.02%
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%
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Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 7.86% 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.

EXPD

Transportation industry group

7.86%

Max
50.36%
Q3
21.18%
EXPD
7.86%
Median
5.58%
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%
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Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their net margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 35.42% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 10.84%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

EXPD

Transportation industry group

10.84%

Max
59.18%
Q3
29.30%
Median
11.50%
EXPD
10.84%
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%
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Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricEXPDNSC
ROE (TTM)45.08%16.84%
ROA (TTM)16.16%6.03%
Net Margin (TTM)7.86%20.71%
Operating Margin (TTM)10.84%35.42%
Gross Margin (TTM)13.51%44.68%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 4.42% 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.

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Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 4.02% 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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Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricEXPDNSC
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.42%0.47%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-13.45%-1.50%
EPS Growth (YoY)4.02%10.20%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-10.36%-2.79%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 1.56 and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 0.90 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

EXPD

Transportation industry group

1.56

Max
2.58
Q3
1.62
EXPD
1.56
Median
1.16
Q1
0.78
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
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Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 0.25 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.02 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

EXPD

Transportation industry group

0.25

Max
2.75
Q3
1.37
Median
0.78
Q1
0.35
EXPD
0.25
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
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Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) 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 Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricEXPDNSC
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.560.90
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.251.02
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.362.68

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 0.84% and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.65% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

EXPD

Transportation industry group

0.84%

Max
4.68%
Q3
1.99%
EXPD
0.84%
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%
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Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 20.08% 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.

EXPD

Transportation industry group

20.08%

Max
100.89%
Q3
41.68%
Median
20.43%
EXPD
20.08%
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%
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Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricEXPDNSC
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.84%1.65%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)20.08%45.26%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 23.46 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.

EXPD

Transportation industry group

23.46

Max
46.76
Q3
30.87
EXPD
23.46
Median
20.58
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
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Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 1.80 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.

EXPD

Transportation industry group

1.80

Max
4.35
Q3
2.07
EXPD
1.80
Median
0.93
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
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Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 4.30 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) at 10.21 prices even higher, above its industry range.

EXPD

Transportation industry group

10.21

EXPD
10.21
Max
6.29
Q3
3.39
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
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Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Expeditors Intl of Washington (EXPD) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricEXPDNSC
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.4626.82
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.805.54
P/B Ratio (MRQ)10.214.30
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.31%2.25%