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NSC vs. R: Norfolk Southern vs. Ryder System Stock Comparison

How do Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Ryder System (R) 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 Ryder System (R) both belong to the Ground Transportation industry, though NSC is classified under Rail Transportation while R falls under Cargo Ground Transportation.

Company profile comparison for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Ryder System (R)
Profile ItemNSCR
NameNorfolk Southern Corp.Ryder System Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryGround TransportationGround Transportation
GICS Sub-IndustryRail TransportationCargo Ground Transportation
Market Capitalization71.86 billion USD10.18 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 2, 1982January 2, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NSC
R
GSPC
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Ryder System (R), 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 Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Ryder System (R). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Ryder System (R)
MetricNSCR
Total Return (1Y)16.63%66.06%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)21.35%43.22%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)4.94%29.10%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NSC
R
GSPC
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Ryder System (R), 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 Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Ryder System (R). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Ryder System (R)
MetricNSCR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)21.75%32.86%
Beta (5Y)1.191.05
Max Drawdown (5Y)-35.64%-27.39%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.02M294.17K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NSC and R 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 Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Ryder System (R)
MetricNSCR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.571.88
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.863.07

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 16.84% and Ryder System (R) at 17.20% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

NSC

Transportation industry group

16.84%

Max
45.08%
Q3
22.02%
NSC
16.84%
Median
13.94%
Q1
2.89%
Min
-10.45%

R

Transportation industry group

17.20%

Max
45.08%
Q3
22.02%
R
17.20%
Median
13.94%
Q1
2.89%
Min
-10.45%
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 20.71% and Ryder System (R) at 3.98% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

NSC

Transportation industry group

20.71%

Max
50.36%
Q3
21.18%
NSC
20.71%
Median
5.58%
Q1
1.55%
Min
-11.37%

R

Transportation industry group

3.98%

Max
50.36%
Q3
21.18%
Median
5.58%
R
3.98%
Q1
1.55%
Min
-11.37%
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Ryder System (R): 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 Ryder System (R) at 9.50%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

NSC

Transportation industry group

35.42%

Max
59.18%
NSC
35.42%
Q3
29.30%
Median
11.50%
Q1
4.62%
Min
-8.91%

R

Transportation industry group

9.50%

Max
59.18%
Q3
29.30%
Median
11.50%
R
9.50%
Q1
4.62%
Min
-8.91%
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Ryder System (R)
MetricNSCR
ROE (TTM)16.84%17.20%
ROA (TTM)6.03%4.01%
Net Margin (TTM)20.71%3.98%
Operating Margin (TTM)35.42%9.50%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.68%19.60%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 0.47% and Ryder System (R) at -0.17% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 10.20% and Ryder System (R) at 7.96% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Ryder System (R)
MetricNSCR
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.47%-0.17%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.50%0.60%
EPS Growth (YoY)10.20%7.96%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.79%-11.18%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 0.90 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Ryder System (R) at 0.67 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for R.

NSC

Transportation industry group

0.90

Max
2.58
Q3
1.62
Median
1.16
NSC
0.90
Q1
0.78
Min
0.22

R

Transportation industry group

0.67

Max
2.58
Q3
1.62
Median
1.16
Q1
0.78
R
0.67
Min
0.22
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.02 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Ryder System (R) at 2.75 uses more debt funding than most peers.

NSC

Transportation industry group

1.02

Max
2.75
Q3
1.37
NSC
1.02
Median
0.78
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00

R

Transportation industry group

2.75

R
2.75
Max
2.75
Q3
1.37
Median
0.78
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Ryder System (R)
MetricNSCR
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.900.67
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.022.75
Net Debt / EBITDA2.682.84

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.65% and Ryder System (R) at 1.38% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

NSC

Transportation industry group

1.65%

Max
4.68%
Q3
1.99%
NSC
1.65%
Median
0.74%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

R

Transportation industry group

1.38%

Max
4.68%
Q3
1.99%
R
1.38%
Median
0.74%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Ryder System (R) at 28.48% 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.

NSC

Transportation industry group

45.26%

Max
100.89%
NSC
45.26%
Q3
41.68%
Median
20.43%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

R

Transportation industry group

28.48%

Max
100.89%
Q3
41.68%
R
28.48%
Median
20.43%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Ryder System (R)
MetricNSCR
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.65%1.38%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)45.26%28.48%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 26.82 and Ryder System (R) at 20.29 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

26.82

Max
46.76
Q3
30.87
NSC
26.82
Median
20.58
Q1
10.44
Min
0.00

R

Transportation industry group

20.29

Max
46.76
Q3
30.87
Median
20.58
R
20.29
Q1
10.44
Min
0.00
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Ryder System (R) at 0.78 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.

NSC

Transportation industry group

5.54

NSC
5.54
Max
4.35
Q3
2.07
Median
0.93
Q1
0.53
Min
0.04

R

Transportation industry group

0.78

Max
4.35
Q3
2.07
Median
0.93
R
0.78
Q1
0.53
Min
0.04
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 4.30 and Ryder System (R) at 3.42 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

NSC

Transportation industry group

4.30

Max
6.29
NSC
4.30
Q3
3.39
Median
1.90
Q1
1.03
Min
-2.07

R

Transportation industry group

3.42

Max
6.29
R
3.42
Q3
3.39
Median
1.90
Q1
1.03
Min
-2.07
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Ryder System (R): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Ryder System (R)
MetricNSCR
P/E Ratio (TTM)26.8220.29
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.540.78
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.303.42
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.25%15.08%