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NSC vs. XPO: Norfolk Southern vs. XPO Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and XPO (XPO)
Profile ItemNSCXPO
NameNorfolk Southern Corp.XPO, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryGround TransportationGround Transportation
GICS Sub-IndustryRail TransportationCargo Ground Transportation
Market Capitalization71.86 billion USD20.62 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 2, 1982October 7, 2003
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NSC
XPO
GSPC
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. XPO (XPO), 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 XPO (XPO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and XPO (XPO)
MetricNSCXPO
Total Return (1Y)16.63%32.98%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)21.35%32.39%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)4.94%32.42%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and XPO (XPO)
MetricNSCXPO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)21.75%41.59%
Beta (5Y)1.191.88
Max Drawdown (5Y)-35.64%-46.99%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.02M1.09M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NSC and XPO 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 XPO (XPO)
MetricNSCXPO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.570.69
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.861.05

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

XPO (XPO) at 26.54% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 16.84% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for XPO.

NSC

Transportation industry group

16.84%

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

XPO

Transportation industry group

26.54%

Max
45.08%
XPO
26.54%
Q3
22.02%
Median
13.94%
Q1
2.89%
Min
-10.45%
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. XPO (XPO): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 20.71% and XPO (XPO) at 5.69% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

NSC

Transportation industry group

20.71%

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

XPO

Transportation industry group

5.69%

Max
50.36%
Q3
21.18%
XPO
5.69%
Median
5.58%
Q1
1.55%
Min
-11.37%
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. XPO (XPO): 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 XPO (XPO) at 12.60%, 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%

XPO

Transportation industry group

12.60%

Max
59.18%
Q3
29.30%
XPO
12.60%
Median
11.50%
Q1
4.62%
Min
-8.91%
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. XPO (XPO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and XPO (XPO)
MetricNSCXPO
ROE (TTM)16.84%26.54%
ROA (TTM)6.03%7.12%
Net Margin (TTM)20.71%5.69%
Operating Margin (TTM)35.42%12.60%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.68%19.30%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 0.47% and XPO (XPO) at 1.05% 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. XPO (XPO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 10.20% and XPO (XPO) at -18.27% 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. XPO (XPO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and XPO (XPO)
MetricNSCXPO
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.47%1.05%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.50%1.86%
EPS Growth (YoY)10.20%-18.27%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.79%-22.90%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 0.90 and XPO (XPO) at 0.99 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

NSC

Transportation industry group

0.90

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

XPO

Transportation industry group

0.99

Max
2.58
Q3
1.62
Median
1.16
XPO
0.99
Q1
0.78
Min
0.22
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. XPO (XPO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.02 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while XPO (XPO) at 2.01 uses more debt funding than most peers.

NSC

Transportation industry group

1.02

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

XPO

Transportation industry group

2.01

Max
2.75
XPO
2.01
Q3
1.37
Median
0.78
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. XPO (XPO): 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 XPO (XPO)
MetricNSCXPO
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.900.99
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.022.01
Net Debt / EBITDA2.682.53

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

XPO (XPO) 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%

XPO

Transportation industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

XPO (XPO) 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%

XPO

Transportation industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and XPO (XPO)
MetricNSCXPO
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 XPO (XPO) at 41.64 sits in the richer quartile — XPO needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

NSC

Transportation industry group

26.82

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

XPO

Transportation industry group

41.64

Max
46.76
XPO
41.64
Q3
30.87
Median
20.58
Q1
10.44
Min
0.00
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. XPO (XPO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: XPO (XPO) at 2.33 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 5.54 prices even higher, above its industry range.

NSC

Transportation industry group

5.54

NSC
5.54
Max
4.35
Q3
2.07
Median
0.93
Q1
0.53
Min
0.04

XPO

Transportation industry group

2.33

Max
4.35
XPO
2.33
Q3
2.07
Median
0.93
Q1
0.53
Min
0.04
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. XPO (XPO): 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 4.30 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and XPO (XPO) at 10.45 prices even higher, above its industry range.

NSC

Transportation industry group

4.30

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

XPO

Transportation industry group

10.45

XPO
10.45
Max
6.29
Q3
3.39
Median
1.90
Q1
1.03
Min
-2.07
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Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs. XPO (XPO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Norfolk Southern (NSC) and XPO (XPO)
MetricNSCXPO
P/E Ratio (TTM)26.8241.64
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.542.33
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.3010.45
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.25%2.71%