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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.

Company profile comparison for LATAM Airlines (LTM) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
Profile ItemLTMNSC
NameLATAM Airlines Group S.A. ADRNorfolk Southern Corp.
Country/RegionChileUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryPassenger AirlinesGround Transportation
GICS Sub-IndustryPassenger AirlinesRail Transportation
Market Capitalization13.60 billion USD71.86 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJuly 25, 2024June 2, 1982
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

LTM
NSC
GSPC
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LATAM Airlines (LTM) 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 LATAM Airlines (LTM) and Norfolk Southern (NSC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for LATAM Airlines (LTM) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricLTMNSC
Total Return (1Y)12.94%16.63%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)--21.35%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)--4.94%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for LATAM Airlines (LTM) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricLTMNSC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)45.42%21.75%
Beta (5Y)0.641.19
Max Drawdown (5Y)-37.94%-35.64%
Avg. Volume (3M)862.11K1.02M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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LTM 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 LATAM Airlines (LTM) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricLTMNSC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.190.57
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.300.86

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%
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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

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%
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LATAM Airlines (LTM) 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 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%
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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for LATAM Airlines (LTM) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricLTMNSC
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.

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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

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.

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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for LATAM Airlines (LTM) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricLTMNSC
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
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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

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
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LATAM Airlines (LTM) 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 LATAM Airlines (LTM) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricLTMNSC
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.680.90
Debt / Equity (MRQ)4.181.02
Net Debt / EBITDA1.752.68

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%
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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

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%
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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for LATAM Airlines (LTM) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricLTMNSC
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
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LATAM Airlines (LTM) vs. Norfolk Southern (NSC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

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

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for LATAM Airlines (LTM) and Norfolk Southern (NSC)
MetricLTMNSC
P/E Ratio (TTM)8.4426.82
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.825.54
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.964.30
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)11.80%2.25%