NSC vs. ROP: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at NSC and ROP, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | NSC | ROP |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Norfolk Southern Corporation | Roper Technologies, Inc. |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry | Ground Transportation | Software |
| Market Capitalization | 62.23 billion USD | 57.07 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NasdaqGS |
| Listing Date | June 2, 1982 | February 13, 1992 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of NSC and ROP 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 | ROP |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | -2.85% | -0.43% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 15.75% | -6.81% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 11.38% | -8.10% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 16.99% | -2.87% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -0.22% | -3.65% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 18.19% | 2.01% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 2.13M | 0.88M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 1.82M | 0.60M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 18.35% | 15.88% |
| Beta | 1.33 | 1.03 |
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.
ROP
8.08%
Software Industry
- Max
- 59.01%
- Q3
- 21.98%
- Median
- 7.15%
- Q1
- -11.12%
- Min
- -51.24%
ROP’s Return on Equity of 8.08% is on par with the norm for the Software industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
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.
ROP
20.62%
Software Industry
- Max
- 48.14%
- Q3
- 18.23%
- Median
- 5.60%
- Q1
- -9.22%
- Min
- -49.36%
A Net Profit Margin of 20.62% places ROP in the upper quartile for the Software 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.
ROP
28.06%
Software Industry
- Max
- 57.34%
- Q3
- 20.60%
- Median
- 7.84%
- Q1
- -8.72%
- Min
- -51.37%
An Operating Profit Margin of 28.06% places ROP in the upper quartile for the Software industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | NSC | ROP |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 23.35% | 8.08% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 7.66% | 4.83% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 27.51% | 20.62% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 41.45% | 28.06% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 51.67% | 68.87% |
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.
ROP
0.46
Software Industry
- Max
- 3.83
- Q3
- 2.31
- Median
- 1.45
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.24
ROP’s Current Ratio of 0.46 falls into the lower quartile for the Software 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.
ROP
0.45
Software Industry
- Max
- 2.14
- Q3
- 0.90
- Median
- 0.29
- Q1
- 0.00
- Min
- 0.00
ROP’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.45 is typical for the Software industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
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.
ROP
80.97
Software Industry
- Max
- 67.02
- Q3
- 19.86
- Median
- 0.70
- Q1
- -12.50
- Min
- -53.00
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 80.97, ROP demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Software industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | NSC | ROP |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.79 | 0.46 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.71 | 0.43 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 1.17 | 0.45 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 5.21 | 80.97 |
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.
ROP
0.58%
Software Industry
- Max
- 0.08%
- Q3
- 0.03%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ROP’s Dividend Yield of 0.58% is exceptionally high, placing it well above the typical range for the Software industry. While this may seem attractive, an unusually high yield can sometimes be a warning sign, reflecting a falling stock price or market concerns about the dividend’s sustainability.
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.
ROP
21.99%
Software Industry
- Max
- 1.32%
- Q3
- 0.53%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
At 21.99%, ROP’s Dividend Payout Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical range for the Software industry. While this provides a significant return to shareholders, it may limit funds for reinvestment and could be difficult to sustain.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | NSC | ROP |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.90% | 0.58% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 36.42% | 21.99% |
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.
ROP
37.65
Software Industry
- Max
- 149.35
- Q3
- 100.21
- Median
- 47.97
- Q1
- 26.77
- Min
- 11.68
ROP’s P/E Ratio of 37.65 is within the middle range for the Software 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.
ROP
7.76
Software Industry
- Max
- 25.24
- Q3
- 13.52
- Median
- 8.15
- Q1
- 4.87
- Min
- 0.98
ROP’s P/S Ratio of 7.76 aligns with the market consensus for the Software industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
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.
ROP
3.10
Software Industry
- Max
- 30.95
- Q3
- 14.91
- Median
- 7.75
- Q1
- 3.60
- Min
- 0.38
ROP’s P/B Ratio of 3.10 is in the lower quartile for the Software industry. From a value investing perspective, this is favorable, as it suggests the stock is trading at a discount to its net asset value and may offer a greater margin of safety.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | NSC | ROP |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 19.18 | 37.65 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 5.28 | 7.76 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 3.90 | 3.10 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 31.74 | 25.39 |