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NSC vs. UHAL: Norfolk Southern vs. U-Haul Stock Comparison

How do Norfolk Southern (NSC) and U-Haul (UHAL) 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 U-Haul (UHAL) both belong to the Ground Transportation industry, though NSC is classified under Rail Transportation while UHAL falls under Cargo Ground Transportation.

Company profile comparison for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and U-Haul (UHAL)
Profile ItemNSCUHAL
NameNorfolk Southern Corp.U-Haul Holding Company
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryGround TransportationGround Transportation
GICS Sub-IndustryRail TransportationCargo Ground Transportation
Market Capitalization71.86 billion USD11.01 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 2, 1982November 4, 1994
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NSC
UHAL
GSPC
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. U-Haul (UHAL), 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 U-Haul (UHAL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and U-Haul (UHAL)
MetricNSCUHAL
Total Return (1Y)16.63%7.10%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)21.35%2.77%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)4.94%-5.22%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NSC
UHAL
GSPC
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. U-Haul (UHAL), 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 U-Haul (UHAL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and U-Haul (UHAL)
MetricNSCUHAL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)21.75%34.63%
Beta (5Y)1.191.06
Max Drawdown (5Y)-35.64%-46.19%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.02M147.08K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NSC and UHAL 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 U-Haul (UHAL)
MetricNSCUHAL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.570.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.860.12

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 16.84% is around its peer norm for ROE, while U-Haul (UHAL) at 1.23% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ equity.

NSC

Transportation industry group

16.84%

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

UHAL

Transportation industry group

1.23%

Max
45.08%
Q3
22.02%
Median
13.94%
Q1
2.89%
UHAL
1.23%
Min
-10.45%
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. U-Haul (UHAL): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 20.71% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while U-Haul (UHAL) at 1.54% retains only a bottom-quartile share.

NSC

Transportation industry group

20.71%

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

UHAL

Transportation industry group

1.54%

Max
50.36%
Q3
21.18%
Median
5.58%
Q1
1.55%
UHAL
1.54%
Min
-11.37%
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. U-Haul (UHAL): 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 U-Haul (UHAL) at 14.92%, 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%

UHAL

Transportation industry group

14.92%

Max
59.18%
Q3
29.30%
UHAL
14.92%
Median
11.50%
Q1
4.62%
Min
-8.91%
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. U-Haul (UHAL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and U-Haul (UHAL)
MetricNSCUHAL
ROE (TTM)16.84%1.23%
ROA (TTM)6.03%1.39%
Net Margin (TTM)20.71%1.54%
Operating Margin (TTM)35.42%14.92%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.68%28.43%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 0.47% and U-Haul (UHAL) at 3.59% 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. U-Haul (UHAL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 10.20% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while U-Haul (UHAL) at -85.80% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. U-Haul (UHAL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and U-Haul (UHAL)
MetricNSCUHAL
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.47%3.59%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.50%0.97%
EPS Growth (YoY)10.20%-85.80%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.79%-64.88%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 0.90 and U-Haul (UHAL) at 1.02 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

NSC

Transportation industry group

0.90

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

UHAL

Transportation industry group

1.02

Max
2.58
Q3
1.62
Median
1.16
UHAL
1.02
Q1
0.78
Min
0.22
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. U-Haul (UHAL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.02 and U-Haul (UHAL) at 1.07 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

NSC

Transportation industry group

1.02

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

UHAL

Transportation industry group

1.07

Max
2.75
Q3
1.37
UHAL
1.07
Median
0.78
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. U-Haul (UHAL): 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 U-Haul (UHAL)
MetricNSCUHAL
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.901.02
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.021.07
Net Debt / EBITDA2.689.16

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

U-Haul (UHAL) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Norfolk Southern (NSC) reports a yield of 1.65%, ranking against industry peers normally.

NSC

Transportation industry group

1.65%

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

UHAL

Transportation industry group

0.00%

Max
4.68%
Q3
1.99%
Median
0.74%
UHAL
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. U-Haul (UHAL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

U-Haul (UHAL) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Norfolk Southern (NSC) reports a payout of 45.26%, ranking against industry peers normally.

NSC

Transportation industry group

45.26%

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

UHAL

Transportation industry group

0.00%

Max
100.89%
Q3
41.68%
Median
20.43%
UHAL
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. U-Haul (UHAL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and U-Haul (UHAL)
MetricNSCUHAL
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.65%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)45.26%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 26.82 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while U-Haul (UHAL) at 183.03 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for UHAL’s trailing earnings.

NSC

Transportation industry group

26.82

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

UHAL

Transportation industry group

183.03

UHAL
183.03
Max
46.76
Q3
30.87
Median
20.58
Q1
10.44
Min
0.00
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. U-Haul (UHAL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

U-Haul (UHAL) at 1.79 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

UHAL

Transportation industry group

1.79

Max
4.35
Q3
2.07
UHAL
1.79
Median
0.93
Q1
0.53
Min
0.04
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. U-Haul (UHAL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

U-Haul (UHAL) at 1.40 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 4.30 carries an above-peer premium to book — NSC is pricier on assets.

NSC

Transportation industry group

4.30

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

UHAL

Transportation industry group

1.40

Max
6.29
Q3
3.39
Median
1.90
UHAL
1.40
Q1
1.03
Min
-2.07
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. U-Haul (UHAL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and U-Haul (UHAL)
MetricNSCUHAL
P/E Ratio (TTM)26.82183.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.541.79
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.301.40
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.25%-13.85%