FDX vs. NSC: FedEx vs. Norfolk Southern Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do FedEx (FDX) 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

FedEx (FDX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but FDX is classified in Air Freight & Logistics while NSC is classified in Ground Transportation.

Company profile comparison for FedEx (FDX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
Profile Item	FDX	NSC
Name	FedEx Corp.	Norfolk Southern Corp.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Transportation	Transportation
GICS Industry	Air Freight & Logistics	Ground Transportation
GICS Sub-Industry	Air Freight & Logistics	Rail Transportation
Market Capitalization	72.17 billion USD	71.86 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	April 12, 1978	June 2, 1982
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FDX

NSC

GSPC

FedEx (FDX) 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 FedEx (FDX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for FedEx (FDX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for FedEx (FDX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
Metric	FDX	NSC
Total Return (1Y)	53.06%	16.63%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	20.20%	21.35%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	11.81%	4.94%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FDX

NSC

GSPC

FedEx (FDX) 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 FedEx (FDX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for FedEx (FDX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
Metric	FDX	NSC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	28.80%	21.75%
Beta (5Y)	1.26	1.19
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-45.30%	-35.64%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.52M	1.02M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

FDX 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 FedEx (FDX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
Metric	FDX	NSC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.69	0.57
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	2.62	0.86

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both FedEx (FDX) at 14.85% 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.

FDX

Transportation industry group

14.85%

Max: 45.08%
Q3: 22.02%
FDX: 14.85%
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%

FedEx (FDX) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both FedEx (FDX) at 4.68% 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.

FDX

Transportation industry group

4.68%

Max: 50.36%
Q3: 21.18%
Median: 5.58%
FDX: 4.68%
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%

FedEx (FDX) 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 FedEx (FDX) at 5.00%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

FDX

Transportation industry group

5.00%

Max: 59.18%
Q3: 29.30%
Median: 11.50%
FDX: 5.00%
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%

FedEx (FDX) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for FedEx (FDX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
Metric	FDX	NSC
ROE (TTM)	14.85%	16.84%
ROA (TTM)	5.01%	6.03%
Net Margin (TTM)	4.68%	20.71%
Operating Margin (TTM)	5.00%	35.42%
Gross Margin (TTM)	27.32%	44.68%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both FedEx (FDX) at 7.73% 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.

FedEx (FDX) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both FedEx (FDX) at 10.35% 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.

FedEx (FDX) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for FedEx (FDX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
Metric	FDX	NSC
Revenue Growth (YoY)	7.73%	0.47%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	1.66%	-1.50%
EPS Growth (YoY)	10.35%	10.20%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	6.22%	-2.79%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both FedEx (FDX) at 1.48 and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 0.90 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

FDX

Transportation industry group

1.48

Max: 2.58
Q3: 1.62
FDX: 1.48
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

FedEx (FDX) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both FedEx (FDX) at 0.99 and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.02 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

FDX

Transportation industry group

0.99

Max: 2.75
Q3: 1.37
FDX: 0.99
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

FedEx (FDX) 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 FedEx (FDX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
Metric	FDX	NSC
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.48	0.90
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.99	1.02
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.91	2.68

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both FedEx (FDX) at 1.76% and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.65% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

FDX

Transportation industry group

1.76%

Max: 4.68%
Q3: 1.99%
FDX: 1.76%
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%

FedEx (FDX) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

FedEx (FDX) at 31.27% 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.

FDX

Transportation industry group

31.27%

Max: 100.89%
Q3: 41.68%
FDX: 31.27%
Median: 20.43%
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%

FedEx (FDX) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for FedEx (FDX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
Metric	FDX	NSC
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.76%	1.65%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	31.27%	45.26%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both FedEx (FDX) at 16.61 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.

FDX

Transportation industry group

16.61

Max: 46.76
Q3: 30.87
Median: 20.58
FDX: 16.61
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

FedEx (FDX) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

FedEx (FDX) at 0.76 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.

FDX

Transportation industry group

0.76

Max: 4.35
Q3: 2.07
Median: 0.93
FDX: 0.76
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

FedEx (FDX) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

FedEx (FDX) at 2.09 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.

FDX

Transportation industry group

2.09

Max: 6.29
Q3: 3.39
FDX: 2.09
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

FedEx (FDX) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for FedEx (FDX) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
Metric	FDX	NSC
P/E Ratio (TTM)	16.61	26.82
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.76	5.54
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.09	4.30
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	7.84%	2.25%