LTM vs. NSC: LATAM Airlines vs. Norfolk Southern Stock Comparison
How do LATAM Airlines (LTM) 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
LATAM Airlines (LTM) and Norfolk Southern (NSC) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but LTM is classified in Passenger Airlines while NSC is classified in Ground Transportation.
Norfolk Southern (NSC) carries decades of public-market history since June 2, 1982, while LATAM Airlines (LTM) listed on July 25, 2024 — long-window comparisons have far more historical data on the NSC side.
Norfolk Southern (NSC) trades as ordinary local shares, while LATAM Airlines (LTM) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | LTM | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | LATAM Airlines Group S.A. ADR | Norfolk Southern Corp. |
| Country/Region | Chile | 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 | 13.60 billion USD | 71.86 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | July 25, 2024 | June 2, 1982 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | LTM | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 12.94% | 16.63% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -- | 21.35% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -- | 4.94% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | LTM | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 45.42% | 21.75% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.64 | 1.19 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -37.94% | -35.64% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 862.11K | 1.02M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | LTM | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.19 | 0.57 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.30 | 0.86 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 98.02% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 16.84%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
LTM
Transportation industry group
98.02%
- LTM
- 98.02%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 9.82% 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.
LTM
Transportation industry group
9.82%
- Max
- 50.36%
- Q3
- 21.18%
- LTM
- 9.82%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 35.42% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 13.14%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
LTM
Transportation industry group
13.14%
- Max
- 59.18%
- Q3
- 29.30%
- LTM
- 13.14%
- Median
- 11.50%
- 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 | LTM | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 98.02% | 16.84% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.59% | 6.03% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 9.82% | 20.71% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 13.14% | 35.42% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 24.99% | 44.68% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 11.16% 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 LTM.
EPS Growth
LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 53.28% 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 LTM.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | LTM | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 11.16% | 0.47% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 15.07% | -1.50% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 53.28% | 10.20% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -2.05% | -2.79% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 0.90 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 0.68 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for LTM.
LTM
Transportation industry group
0.68
- Max
- 2.58
- Q3
- 1.62
- Median
- 1.16
- Q1
- 0.78
- LTM
- 0.68
- 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)
Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.02 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 4.18 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.
LTM
Transportation industry group
4.18
- LTM
- 4.18
- Max
- 2.75
- Q3
- 1.37
- 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 | LTM | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.68 | 0.90 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 4.18 | 1.02 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.75 | 2.68 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 0.00% and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.65% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
LTM
Transportation industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 4.68%
- Q3
- 1.99%
- Median
- 0.74%
- LTM
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 27.08% 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.
LTM
Transportation industry group
27.08%
- Max
- 100.89%
- Q3
- 41.68%
- LTM
- 27.08%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | LTM | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 1.65% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 27.08% | 45.26% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 8.44 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 26.82 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for LTM, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
LTM
Transportation industry group
8.44
- Max
- 46.76
- Q3
- 30.87
- Median
- 20.58
- Q1
- 10.44
- LTM
- 8.44
- 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)
LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 0.82 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.
LTM
Transportation industry group
0.82
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- Median
- 0.93
- LTM
- 0.82
- 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)
Both LATAM Airlines (LTM) at 5.96 and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 4.30 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
LTM
Transportation industry group
5.96
- Max
- 6.29
- LTM
- 5.96
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | LTM | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 8.44 | 26.82 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.82 | 5.54 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.96 | 4.30 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 11.80% | 2.25% |