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NSC vs. UNP: Norfolk Southern vs. Union Pacific Stock Comparison

How do Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Union Pacific (UNP) 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 Union Pacific (UNP) are both classified in the Rail Transportation sub-industry within the broader Ground Transportation industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Union Pacific (UNP)
Profile ItemNSCUNP
NameNorfolk Southern Corp.Union Pacific Corp.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryGround TransportationGround Transportation
GICS Sub-IndustryRail TransportationRail Transportation
Market Capitalization78.32 billion USD182.62 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 2, 1982January 2, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NSC
UNP
GSPC
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Union Pacific (UNP), 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 Union Pacific (UNP). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricNSCUNP
Total Return (1Y)30.00%42.41%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)20.73%13.65%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)8.18%9.24%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NSC
UNP
GSPC
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Union Pacific (UNP), 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 Union Pacific (UNP). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricNSCUNP
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)20.37%22.10%
Beta (5Y)1.280.97
Max Drawdown (5Y)-35.64%-31.83%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.17M2.90M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NSC and UNP 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 Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricNSCUNP
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.271.74
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.042.81

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 39.70% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 16.99% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for UNP.

NSC

Transportation industry group

16.99%

Max
42.67%
Q3
21.91%
NSC
16.99%
Median
11.31%
Q1
1.36%
Min
-15.07%

UNP

Transportation industry group

39.70%

Max
42.67%
UNP
39.70%
Q3
21.91%
Median
11.31%
Q1
1.36%
Min
-15.07%
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 28.85% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 21.02%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

NSC

Transportation industry group

21.02%

Max
51.26%
Q3
21.10%
NSC
21.02%
Median
5.43%
Q1
0.83%
Min
-11.37%

UNP

Transportation industry group

28.85%

Max
51.26%
UNP
28.85%
Q3
21.10%
Median
5.43%
Q1
0.83%
Min
-11.37%
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their net margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 35.30% and Union Pacific (UNP) at 40.98% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

NSC

Transportation industry group

35.30%

Max
50.63%
NSC
35.30%
Q3
22.88%
Median
9.27%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-11.50%

UNP

Transportation industry group

40.98%

Max
50.63%
UNP
40.98%
Q3
22.88%
Median
9.27%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-11.50%
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricNSCUNP
ROE (TTM)16.99%39.70%
ROA (TTM)5.95%9.27%
Net Margin (TTM)21.02%28.85%
Operating Margin (TTM)35.30%40.98%
Gross Margin (TTM)45.16%56.29%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 0.47% and Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.07% 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. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 10.20% and Union Pacific (UNP) at 8.03% 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. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricNSCUNP
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.47%1.07%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.50%-0.49%
EPS Growth (YoY)10.20%8.03%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.79%2.24%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 0.83 and Union Pacific (UNP) at 0.99 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

NSC

Transportation industry group

0.83

Max
2.50
Q3
1.59
Median
1.15
NSC
0.83
Q1
0.79
Min
0.28

UNP

Transportation industry group

0.99

Max
2.50
Q3
1.59
Median
1.15
UNP
0.99
Q1
0.79
Min
0.28
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.06 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.51 uses more debt funding than most peers.

NSC

Transportation industry group

1.06

Max
2.08
Q3
1.38
NSC
1.06
Median
0.79
Q1
0.36
Min
0.00

UNP

Transportation industry group

1.51

Max
2.08
UNP
1.51
Q3
1.38
Median
0.79
Q1
0.36
Min
0.00
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): 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 Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricNSCUNP
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.830.99
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.061.51
Net Debt / EBITDA2.842.26

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.55% and Union Pacific (UNP) at 1.79% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

NSC

Transportation industry group

1.55%

Max
4.26%
Q3
1.91%
NSC
1.55%
Median
0.74%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UNP

Transportation industry group

1.79%

Max
4.26%
Q3
1.91%
UNP
1.79%
Median
0.74%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Union Pacific (UNP) at 44.70% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 46.08% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

NSC

Transportation industry group

46.08%

Max
108.70%
NSC
46.08%
Q3
44.78%
Median
21.03%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UNP

Transportation industry group

44.70%

Max
108.70%
Q3
44.78%
UNP
44.70%
Median
21.03%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricNSCUNP
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.55%1.79%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)46.08%44.70%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 29.75 and Union Pacific (UNP) at 24.93 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

29.75

Max
56.46
Q3
32.23
NSC
29.75
Median
19.95
Q1
12.37
Min
2.58

UNP

Transportation industry group

24.93

Max
56.46
Q3
32.23
UNP
24.93
Median
19.95
Q1
12.37
Min
2.58
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Investors are paying well above the peer range per dollar of sales for both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 6.25 and Union Pacific (UNP) at 7.19 — each P/S ratio clears its industry’s benchmark range.

NSC

Transportation industry group

6.25

NSC
6.25
Max
4.71
Q3
2.33
Median
1.22
Q1
0.62
Min
0.06

UNP

Transportation industry group

7.19

UNP
7.19
Max
4.71
Q3
2.33
Median
1.22
Q1
0.62
Min
0.06
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 4.82 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Union Pacific (UNP) at 9.40 prices even higher, above its industry range.

NSC

Transportation industry group

4.82

Max
7.30
NSC
4.82
Q3
3.67
Median
1.97
Q1
1.19
Min
-2.27

UNP

Transportation industry group

9.40

UNP
9.40
Max
7.30
Q3
3.67
Median
1.97
Q1
1.19
Min
-2.27
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. Union Pacific (UNP): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Union Pacific (UNP)
MetricNSCUNP
P/E Ratio (TTM)29.7524.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.257.19
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.829.40
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.77%2.58%