NSC vs. ROK: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at NSC and ROK, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | NSC | ROK |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Norfolk Southern Corporation | Rockwell Automation, Inc. |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry | Ground Transportation | Electrical Equipment |
| Market Capitalization | 64.05 billion USD | 38.18 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 2, 1982 | December 31, 1981 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of NSC and ROK by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | NSC | ROK |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 1.06% | -2.27% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 17.11% | 10.19% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 10.99% | 13.71% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 18.38% | 28.06% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 2.69% | -3.44% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 21.64% | 18.84% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 1.69M | 1.04M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 1.75M | 0.96M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 18.13% | 21.10% |
| Beta | 1.33 | 1.42 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
NSC
23.35%
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 22.11%
- Q3
- 13.84%
- Median
- 9.66%
- Q1
- 7.55%
- Min
- 0.36%
NSC’s Return on Equity of 23.35% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Ground Transportation industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.
ROK
28.15%
Electrical Equipment Industry
- Max
- 37.56%
- Q3
- 20.60%
- Median
- 14.38%
- Q1
- 4.35%
- Min
- 0.90%
In the upper quartile for the Electrical Equipment industry, ROK’s Return on Equity of 28.15% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
NSC
27.51%
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 32.20%
- Q3
- 18.59%
- Median
- 7.11%
- Q1
- 4.13%
- Min
- -10.38%
A Net Profit Margin of 27.51% places NSC in the upper quartile for the Ground Transportation industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
ROK
12.03%
Electrical Equipment Industry
- Max
- 20.43%
- Q3
- 10.97%
- Median
- 6.07%
- Q1
- 3.16%
- Min
- 0.29%
A Net Profit Margin of 12.03% places ROK in the upper quartile for the Electrical Equipment industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
NSC
41.45%
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 41.31%
- Q3
- 23.16%
- Median
- 11.33%
- Q1
- 6.82%
- Min
- -12.08%
NSC’s Operating Profit Margin of 41.45% is exceptionally high, placing it well above the typical range for the Ground Transportation industry. This demonstrates outstanding efficiency in managing its core operations, which can be a result of strong pricing power or superior cost control.
ROK
13.99%
Electrical Equipment Industry
- Max
- 26.20%
- Q3
- 14.31%
- Median
- 7.54%
- Q1
- 3.77%
- Min
- -5.64%
ROK’s Operating Profit Margin of 13.99% is around the midpoint for the Electrical Equipment industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | NSC | ROK |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 23.35% | 28.15% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 7.66% | 8.75% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 27.51% | 12.03% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 41.45% | 13.99% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 51.67% | 39.43% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
NSC
0.79
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 2.03
- Q3
- 1.26
- Median
- 0.89
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.38
NSC’s Current Ratio of 0.79 aligns with the median group of the Ground Transportation industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
ROK
1.06
Electrical Equipment Industry
- Max
- 3.02
- Q3
- 1.99
- Median
- 1.41
- Q1
- 1.07
- Min
- 0.80
ROK’s Current Ratio of 1.06 falls into the lower quartile for the Electrical Equipment industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
NSC
1.17
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 2.51
- Q3
- 1.51
- Median
- 1.06
- Q1
- 0.47
- Min
- 0.00
NSC’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.17 is typical for the Ground Transportation industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
ROK
1.00
Electrical Equipment Industry
- Max
- 1.44
- Q3
- 0.99
- Median
- 0.56
- Q1
- 0.24
- Min
- 0.00
ROK’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Electrical Equipment industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.00. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
NSC
5.21
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 51.07
- Q3
- 22.54
- Median
- 7.94
- Q1
- 2.72
- Min
- -24.57
NSC’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 5.21 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Ground Transportation industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
ROK
--
Electrical Equipment Industry
- Max
- 36.12
- Q3
- 19.29
- Median
- 9.38
- Q1
- 1.16
- Min
- -10.92
Interest Coverage Ratio data for ROK is currently unavailable.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | NSC | ROK |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.79 | 1.06 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.71 | 0.72 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 1.17 | 1.00 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 5.21 | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
NSC
1.90%
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 5.44%
- Q3
- 2.49%
- Median
- 1.53%
- Q1
- 0.39%
- Min
- 0.00%
NSC’s Dividend Yield of 1.90% is consistent with its peers in the Ground Transportation industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
ROK
1.52%
Electrical Equipment Industry
- Max
- 2.20%
- Q3
- 1.53%
- Median
- 1.01%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ROK’s Dividend Yield of 1.52% is consistent with its peers in the Electrical Equipment industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
NSC
36.42%
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 137.07%
- Q3
- 74.71%
- Median
- 41.16%
- Q1
- 15.12%
- Min
- 0.00%
NSC’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 36.42% is within the typical range for the Ground Transportation industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
ROK
60.38%
Electrical Equipment Industry
- Max
- 119.44%
- Q3
- 51.87%
- Median
- 27.71%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ROK’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 60.38% is in the upper quartile for the Electrical Equipment industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | NSC | ROK |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.90% | 1.52% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 36.42% | 60.38% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
NSC
19.18
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 42.59
- Q3
- 24.86
- Median
- 16.38
- Q1
- 12.79
- Min
- 4.37
NSC’s P/E Ratio of 19.18 is within the middle range for the Ground Transportation industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
ROK
39.64
Electrical Equipment Industry
- Max
- 81.85
- Q3
- 44.17
- Median
- 27.61
- Q1
- 18.62
- Min
- 7.73
ROK’s P/E Ratio of 39.64 is within the middle range for the Electrical Equipment industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
NSC
5.28
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 4.02
- Q3
- 2.20
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.87
- Min
- 0.22
With a P/S Ratio of 5.28, NSC trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Ground Transportation industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
ROK
4.77
Electrical Equipment Industry
- Max
- 8.18
- Q3
- 4.02
- Median
- 1.84
- Q1
- 0.97
- Min
- 0.44
ROK’s P/S Ratio of 4.77 is in the upper echelon for the Electrical Equipment industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
NSC
3.90
Ground Transportation Industry
- Max
- 4.95
- Q3
- 2.78
- Median
- 1.38
- Q1
- 1.17
- Min
- 0.64
NSC’s P/B Ratio of 3.90 is in the upper tier for the Ground Transportation industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
ROK
10.81
Electrical Equipment Industry
- Max
- 8.50
- Q3
- 4.53
- Median
- 3.39
- Q1
- 1.70
- Min
- 0.51
At 10.81, ROK’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Electrical Equipment industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | NSC | ROK |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 19.18 | 39.64 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 5.28 | 4.77 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 3.90 | 10.81 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 31.74 | 29.13 |