NSC vs. UAL: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated on August 27, 2025

Here’s a clear look at NSC and UAL, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

Symbol	NSC	UAL
Company Name	Norfolk Southern Corporation	United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
Country	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry	Ground Transportation	Passenger Airlines
Market Capitalization	62.23 billion USD	33.13 billion USD
Exchange	NYSE	NasdaqGS
Listing Date	June 2, 1982	February 6, 2006
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of NSC and UAL 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.

NSC vs. UAL: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	NSC	UAL
5-Day Price Return	-2.85%	0.15%
13-Week Price Return	15.75%	34.66%
26-Week Price Return	11.38%	-3.92%
52-Week Price Return	16.99%	146.96%
Month-to-Date Return	-0.22%	15.89%
Year-to-Date Return	18.19%	5.40%
10-Day Avg. Volume	2.13M	5.25M
3-Month Avg. Volume	1.82M	7.25M
3-Month Volatility	18.35%	51.97%
Beta	1.33	1.51

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.

UAL

26.43%

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 49.96%
Q3: 28.15%
Median: 15.41%
Q1: 8.29%
Min: -11.01%

UAL’s Return on Equity of 26.43% is on par with the norm for the Passenger Airlines industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

NSC vs. UAL: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Ground Transportation and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

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.

UAL

5.71%

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 17.65%
Q3: 8.90%
Median: 5.80%
Q1: 2.02%
Min: -3.12%

UAL’s Net Profit Margin of 5.71% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Passenger Airlines industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.

NSC vs. UAL: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Ground Transportation and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

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.

UAL

8.62%

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 22.47%
Q3: 12.33%
Median: 8.62%
Q1: 4.43%
Min: -2.88%

UAL’s Operating Profit Margin of 8.62% is around the midpoint for the Passenger Airlines industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

NSC vs. UAL: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Ground Transportation and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	NSC	UAL
Return on Equity (TTM)	23.35%	26.43%
Return on Assets (TTM)	7.66%	4.41%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	27.51%	5.71%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	41.45%	8.62%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	51.67%	64.15%

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.

UAL

0.70

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 1.46
Q3: 0.94
Median: 0.76
Q1: 0.54
Min: 0.17

UAL’s Current Ratio of 0.70 aligns with the median group of the Passenger Airlines industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.

NSC vs. UAL: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Ground Transportation and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

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.

UAL

2.02

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 9.80
Q3: 4.82
Median: 1.30
Q1: 0.89
Min: 0.00

UAL’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 2.02 is typical for the Passenger Airlines industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

NSC vs. UAL: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Ground Transportation and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

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.

UAL

5.76

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 22.60
Q3: 16.29
Median: 6.75
Q1: 1.94
Min: -8.55

UAL’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 5.76 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Passenger Airlines industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

NSC vs. UAL: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Ground Transportation and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	NSC	UAL
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.79	0.70
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	0.71	0.62
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	1.17	2.02
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	5.21	5.76

Growth

Revenue Growth

NSC vs. UAL: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

NSC vs. UAL: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

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.

UAL

0.00%

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 6.71%
Q3: 3.95%
Median: 1.10%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

UAL currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.

NSC vs. UAL: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Ground Transportation and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

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.

UAL

0.00%

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 71.59%
Q3: 38.54%
Median: 8.16%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

UAL has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.

NSC vs. UAL: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Ground Transportation and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	NSC	UAL
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.90%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	36.42%	0.00%

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.

UAL

9.78

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 13.29
Q3: 11.94
Median: 8.78
Q1: 7.42
Min: 3.07

UAL’s P/E Ratio of 9.78 is within the middle range for the Passenger Airlines industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

NSC vs. UAL: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Ground Transportation and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

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.

UAL

0.56

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 1.09
Q3: 0.74
Median: 0.61
Q1: 0.44
Min: 0.09

UAL’s P/S Ratio of 0.56 aligns with the market consensus for the Passenger Airlines industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

NSC vs. UAL: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Ground Transportation and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

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.

UAL

1.94

Passenger Airlines Industry

Max: 3.44
Q3: 2.89
Median: 1.84
Q1: 1.22
Min: 0.56

UAL’s P/B Ratio of 1.94 is within the conventional range for the Passenger Airlines industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.

NSC vs. UAL: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Ground Transportation and Passenger Airlines industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	NSC	UAL
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	19.18	9.78
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	5.28	0.56
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	3.90	1.94
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	31.74	8.00