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GRAB vs. NSC: Grab vs. Norfolk Southern Stock Comparison

How do Grab (GRAB) 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

Grab (GRAB) and Norfolk Southern (NSC) both belong to the Ground Transportation industry, though GRAB is classified under Passenger Ground Transportation while NSC falls under Rail Transportation.

Norfolk Southern (NSC) has more than two decades of public-market history since June 2, 1982, whereas Grab (GRAB) listed on December 1, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Grab (GRAB) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
Profile ItemGRABNSC
NameGrab Holdings Ltd. Class ANorfolk Southern Corp.
Country/RegionSingaporeUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryGround TransportationGround Transportation
GICS Sub-IndustryPassenger Ground TransportationRail Transportation
Market Capitalization13.77 billion USD71.86 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateDecember 1, 2020June 2, 1982
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GRAB
NSC
GSPC
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Grab (GRAB) 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 Grab (GRAB) and Norfolk Southern (NSC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Grab (GRAB) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricGRABNSC
Total Return (1Y)-38.94%16.63%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)1.05%21.35%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-26.29%4.94%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Grab (GRAB) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricGRABNSC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)39.77%21.75%
Beta (5Y)0.741.19
Max Drawdown (5Y)-86.46%-35.64%
Avg. Volume (3M)61.91M1.02M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GRAB 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 Grab (GRAB) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricGRABNSC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-1.090.57
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-1.550.86

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Grab (GRAB) at 7.64% 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.

GRAB

Transportation industry group

7.64%

Max
45.08%
Q3
22.02%
Median
13.94%
GRAB
7.64%
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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Grab (GRAB) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Grab (GRAB) at 14.79% 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.

GRAB

Transportation industry group

14.79%

Max
50.36%
Q3
21.18%
GRAB
14.79%
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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Grab (GRAB) 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 Grab (GRAB) at 10.07%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

GRAB

Transportation industry group

10.07%

Max
59.18%
Q3
29.30%
Median
11.50%
GRAB
10.07%
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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Grab (GRAB) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Grab (GRAB) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricGRABNSC
ROE (TTM)7.64%16.84%
ROA (TTM)1.08%6.03%
Net Margin (TTM)14.79%20.71%
Operating Margin (TTM)10.07%35.42%
Gross Margin (TTM)41.44%44.68%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Grab (GRAB) at 20.49% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 0.47% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for GRAB.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Norfolk Southern (NSC) reports EPS growth of 10.20%, ranked against its industry; Grab (GRAB) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Grab (GRAB) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricGRABNSC
Revenue Growth (YoY)20.49%0.47%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)32.98%-1.50%
EPS Growth (YoY)--10.20%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---2.79%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Grab (GRAB) at 1.38 and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 0.90 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

GRAB

Transportation industry group

1.38

Max
2.58
Q3
1.62
GRAB
1.38
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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Grab (GRAB) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Grab (GRAB) at 0.29 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.02 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

GRAB

Transportation industry group

0.29

Max
2.75
Q3
1.37
Median
0.78
Q1
0.35
GRAB
0.29
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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Grab (GRAB) 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 Grab (GRAB) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricGRABNSC
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.380.90
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.291.02
Net Debt / EBITDA-8.582.68

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Grab (GRAB) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Norfolk Southern (NSC) reports a yield of 1.65%, ranking against industry peers normally.

GRAB

Transportation industry group

0.00%

Max
4.68%
Q3
1.99%
Median
0.74%
GRAB
0.00%
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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Grab (GRAB) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Grab (GRAB) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Norfolk Southern (NSC) reports a payout of 45.26%, ranking against industry peers normally.

GRAB

Transportation industry group

0.00%

Max
100.89%
Q3
41.68%
Median
20.43%
GRAB
0.00%
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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Grab (GRAB) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Grab (GRAB) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricGRABNSC
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%1.65%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%45.26%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 26.82 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Grab (GRAB) at 34.10 sits in the richer quartile — GRAB needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

GRAB

Transportation industry group

34.10

Max
46.76
GRAB
34.10
Q3
30.87
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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Grab (GRAB) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Grab (GRAB) at 3.47 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 5.54 prices even higher, above its industry range.

GRAB

Transportation industry group

3.47

Max
4.35
GRAB
3.47
Q3
2.07
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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Grab (GRAB) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Grab (GRAB) at 2.04 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.

GRAB

Transportation industry group

2.04

Max
6.29
Q3
3.39
GRAB
2.04
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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Grab (GRAB) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Grab (GRAB) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricGRABNSC
P/E Ratio (TTM)34.1026.82
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.475.54
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.044.30
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)5.71%2.25%