GPN vs. NSC: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at GPN and NSC, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | GPN | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Global Payments Inc. | Norfolk Southern Corporation |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry | Financial Services | Ground Transportation |
| Market Capitalization | 21.48 billion USD | 66.56 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 16, 2001 | June 2, 1982 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of GPN and NSC by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | GPN | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 2.44% | -0.56% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 9.77% | 14.07% |
| 26-Week Price Return | -4.79% | 34.38% |
| 52-Week Price Return | -9.27% | 21.69% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 6.56% | -1.26% |
| Year-to-Date Return | -21.00% | 26.38% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 2.13M | 1.43M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 2.50M | 1.98M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 35.89% | 18.08% |
| Beta | 0.84 | 1.34 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
GPN
6.36%
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 39.28%
- Q3
- 18.88%
- Median
- 9.97%
- Q1
- 4.03%
- Min
- -10.25%
GPN’s Return on Equity of 6.36% is on par with the norm for the Financial Services industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
NSC
23.35%
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 23.35%
- Q3
- 13.74%
- Median
- 9.05%
- Q1
- 6.86%
- Min
- 1.73%
In the upper quartile for the Ground Transportation industry, NSC’s Return on Equity of 23.35% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
GPN
15.07%
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 52.16%
- Q3
- 25.35%
- Median
- 12.68%
- Q1
- 6.11%
- Min
- -11.69%
GPN’s Net Profit Margin of 15.07% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Financial Services industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
NSC
27.51%
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 32.19%
- Q3
- 17.08%
- Median
- 7.19%
- Q1
- 4.45%
- Min
- -5.54%
A Net Profit Margin of 27.51% places NSC in the upper quartile for the Ground Transportation industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
GPN
23.26%
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 75.57%
- Q3
- 37.78%
- Median
- 19.09%
- Q1
- 10.04%
- Min
- -19.42%
GPN’s Operating Profit Margin of 23.26% is around the midpoint for the Financial Services industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
NSC
41.45%
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 42.90%
- Q3
- 23.80%
- Median
- 10.93%
- Q1
- 7.06%
- Min
- -12.94%
An Operating Profit Margin of 41.45% places NSC in the upper quartile for the Ground Transportation industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | GPN | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 6.36% | 23.35% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 2.96% | 7.66% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 15.07% | 27.51% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 23.26% | 41.45% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 65.01% | 51.67% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
GPN
0.95
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 4.83
- Q3
- 2.70
- Median
- 1.44
- Q1
- 0.86
- Min
- 0.01
For the Financial Services industry, the Current Ratio is often not the most suitable measure of short-term liquidity.
NSC
0.79
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 2.00
- Q3
- 1.31
- Median
- 0.98
- Q1
- 0.74
- Min
- 0.35
NSC’s Current Ratio of 0.79 aligns with the median group of the Ground Transportation industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
GPN
0.74
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.14
- Median
- 0.66
- Q1
- 0.12
- Min
- 0.00
The Debt-to-Equity Ratio is often not the primary focus for assessing leverage in the Financial Services industry.
NSC
1.17
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 2.51
- Q3
- 1.48
- Median
- 1.02
- Q1
- 0.48
- Min
- 0.00
NSC’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.17 is typical for the Ground Transportation industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
GPN
5.15
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 136.23
- Q3
- 56.08
- Median
- 6.55
- Q1
- 2.01
- Min
- -33.27
The Interest Coverage Ratio is often not a primary indicator of debt servicing capacity in the Financial Services industry.
NSC
5.21
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 59.80
- Q3
- 25.78
- Median
- 8.23
- Q1
- 2.52
- Min
- -24.57
NSC’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 5.21 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Ground Transportation industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | GPN | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.95 | 0.79 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.90 | 0.71 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.74 | 1.17 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 5.15 | 5.21 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
GPN
1.15%
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 8.12%
- Q3
- 3.37%
- Median
- 1.70%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
GPN’s Dividend Yield of 1.15% is consistent with its peers in the Financial Services industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
NSC
1.68%
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 5.29%
- Q3
- 2.57%
- Median
- 1.59%
- Q1
- 0.71%
- Min
- 0.00%
NSC’s Dividend Yield of 1.68% is consistent with its peers in the Ground Transportation industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
GPN
17.30%
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 132.10%
- Q3
- 64.32%
- Median
- 18.23%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
GPN’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 17.30% is within the typical range for the Financial Services industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
NSC
36.42%
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 149.12%
- Q3
- 75.08%
- Median
- 41.35%
- Q1
- 16.42%
- Min
- 0.00%
NSC’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 36.42% is within the typical range for the Ground Transportation industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | GPN | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.15% | 1.68% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 17.30% | 36.42% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
GPN
15.00
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 45.81
- Q3
- 30.21
- Median
- 16.29
- Q1
- 10.14
- Min
- 0.70
GPN’s P/E Ratio of 15.00 is within the middle range for the Financial Services industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
NSC
21.64
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 39.04
- Q3
- 24.45
- Median
- 17.51
- Q1
- 12.92
- Min
- 5.87
NSC’s P/E Ratio of 21.64 is within the middle range for the Ground Transportation industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
GPN
2.26
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 10.88
- Q3
- 5.34
- Median
- 2.64
- Q1
- 1.24
- Min
- 0.06
The P/S Ratio is often not a primary valuation tool in the Financial Services industry.
NSC
5.95
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 2.82
- Q3
- 2.22
- Median
- 1.41
- Q1
- 0.88
- Min
- 0.24
With a P/S Ratio of 5.95, NSC trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Ground Transportation industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
GPN
0.86
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 7.93
- Q3
- 3.78
- Median
- 1.49
- Q1
- 0.88
- Min
- 0.08
GPN’s P/B Ratio of 0.86 is in the lower quartile for the Financial Services industry. From a value investing perspective, this is favorable, as it suggests the stock is trading at a discount to its net asset value and may offer a greater margin of safety.
NSC
3.90
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 5.27
- Q3
- 3.03
- Median
- 1.40
- Q1
- 1.18
- Min
- 0.67
NSC’s P/B Ratio of 3.90 is in the upper tier for the Ground Transportation industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | GPN | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 15.00 | 21.64 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 2.26 | 5.95 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 0.86 | 3.90 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 6.87 | 35.81 |