NSC vs. PAC: Norfolk Southern vs. Grupo Aeroportuario Stock Comparison
How do Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Grupo Aeroportuario (PAC) 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
Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Grupo Aeroportuario (PAC) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but NSC is classified in Ground Transportation while PAC is classified in Transportation Infrastructure.
Norfolk Southern (NSC) trades as ordinary local shares, while Grupo Aeroportuario (PAC) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | NSC | PAC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Norfolk Southern Corp. | Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico SAB de CV ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | Mexico |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Transportation | Transportation |
| GICS Industry | Ground Transportation | Transportation Infrastructure |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Rail Transportation | Airport Services |
| Market Capitalization | 71.73 billion USD | 12.07 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 2, 1982 | February 27, 2006 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | NSC | PAC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 12.35% | -10.84% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 19.24% | 17.49% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 6.25% | 13.78% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | NSC | PAC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 20.62% | 32.98% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.22 | 0.96 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -35.64% | -42.83% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.09M | 146.40K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | NSC | PAC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.38 | -0.46 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.59 | -0.64 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Grupo Aeroportuario (PAC) at 28.03% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 16.99% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for PAC.
NSC
Transportation industry group
16.99%
- Max
- 42.67%
- Q3
- 21.91%
- NSC
- 16.99%
- Median
- 11.31%
- Q1
- 1.36%
- Min
- -15.07%
PAC
Transportation industry group
28.03%
- Max
- 42.67%
- PAC
- 28.03%
- Q3
- 21.91%
- Median
- 11.31%
- Q1
- 1.36%
- Min
- -15.07%
Net Margin (TTM)
Grupo Aeroportuario (PAC) at 30.83% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 21.02%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
NSC
Transportation industry group
21.02%
- Max
- 51.26%
- Q3
- 21.10%
- NSC
- 21.02%
- Median
- 5.20%
- Q1
- 0.83%
- Min
- -11.37%
PAC
Transportation industry group
30.83%
- Max
- 51.26%
- PAC
- 30.83%
- Q3
- 21.10%
- Median
- 5.20%
- Q1
- 0.83%
- Min
- -11.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 35.30% and Grupo Aeroportuario (PAC) at 44.16% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
NSC
Transportation industry group
35.30%
- Max
- 50.63%
- NSC
- 35.30%
- Q3
- 22.88%
- Median
- 9.27%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -11.50%
PAC
Transportation industry group
44.16%
- Max
- 50.63%
- PAC
- 44.16%
- Q3
- 22.88%
- Median
- 9.27%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -11.50%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | NSC | PAC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 16.99% | 28.03% |
| ROA (TTM) | 5.95% | 10.47% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 21.02% | 30.83% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 35.30% | 44.16% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 45.16% | 77.74% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Grupo Aeroportuario (PAC) at 23.19% 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 PAC.
EPS Growth
Grupo Aeroportuario (PAC) at 12.68% 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 PAC.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | NSC | PAC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 0.47% | 23.19% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -1.50% | 14.78% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 10.20% | 12.68% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -2.79% | 2.87% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 0.83 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Grupo Aeroportuario (PAC) at 0.74 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for PAC.
NSC
Transportation industry group
0.83
- Max
- 2.50
- Q3
- 1.60
- Median
- 1.15
- NSC
- 0.83
- Q1
- 0.79
- Min
- 0.28
PAC
Transportation industry group
0.74
- Max
- 2.50
- Q3
- 1.60
- Median
- 1.15
- Q1
- 0.79
- PAC
- 0.74
- Min
- 0.28
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.06 and Grupo Aeroportuario (PAC) at 1.18 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
NSC
Transportation industry group
1.06
- Max
- 2.08
- Q3
- 1.38
- NSC
- 1.06
- Median
- 0.79
- Q1
- 0.36
- Min
- 0.00
PAC
Transportation industry group
1.18
- Max
- 2.08
- Q3
- 1.38
- PAC
- 1.18
- Median
- 0.79
- Q1
- 0.36
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | NSC | PAC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.83 | 0.74 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.06 | 1.18 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.84 | 2.01 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.70% pays an industry-typical yield; Grupo Aeroportuario (PAC) at 10.32% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.
NSC
Transportation industry group
1.70%
- Max
- 4.95%
- Q3
- 2.02%
- NSC
- 1.70%
- Median
- 0.80%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PAC
Transportation industry group
10.32%
- PAC
- 10.32%
- Max
- 4.95%
- Q3
- 2.02%
- Median
- 0.80%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Grupo Aeroportuario (PAC) at 43.61% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 46.08% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
NSC
Transportation industry group
46.08%
- Max
- 108.70%
- NSC
- 46.08%
- Q3
- 43.93%
- Median
- 22.03%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PAC
Transportation industry group
43.61%
- Max
- 108.70%
- Q3
- 43.93%
- PAC
- 43.61%
- Median
- 22.03%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | NSC | PAC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.70% | 10.32% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 46.08% | 43.61% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 27.25 and Grupo Aeroportuario (PAC) at 17.98 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
NSC
Transportation industry group
27.25
- Max
- 53.09
- Q3
- 28.80
- NSC
- 27.25
- Median
- 17.98
- Q1
- 11.39
- Min
- 0.00
PAC
Transportation industry group
17.98
- Max
- 53.09
- Q3
- 28.80
- PAC
- 17.98
- Median
- 17.98
- Q1
- 11.39
- Min
- 0.00
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Grupo Aeroportuario (PAC) at 0.36 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 5.72 prices above its industry range — a wide gap in sales valuation between them.
NSC
Transportation industry group
5.72
- NSC
- 5.72
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.16
- Median
- 1.14
- Q1
- 0.56
- Min
- 0.06
PAC
Transportation industry group
0.36
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.16
- Median
- 1.14
- Q1
- 0.56
- PAC
- 0.36
- Min
- 0.06
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 4.41 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Grupo Aeroportuario (PAC) at 605.38 prices even higher, above its industry range.
NSC
Transportation industry group
4.41
- Max
- 6.28
- NSC
- 4.41
- Q3
- 3.23
- Median
- 1.93
- Q1
- 1.07
- Min
- -2.10
PAC
Transportation industry group
605.38
- PAC
- 605.38
- Max
- 6.28
- Q3
- 3.23
- Median
- 1.93
- Q1
- 1.07
- Min
- -2.10
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | NSC | PAC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 27.25 | 17.98 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.72 | 0.36 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.41 | 605.38 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.93% | 57.17% |