NSC
BEARISH
$321.44
Live
Norfolk Southern Corporation · NYSE
Target $313.78
(-2.4%)
$218.05
52W Range
$322.2
At a glance
Key valuation, profitability, growth, and risk metrics.
Updated Apr 24, 2026
Market cap
$72.19B
P/E
25.19
ROE
19.2%
Profit margin
23.6%
Debt/Equity
1.15
Dividend yield
N/A
AI Analysis
AI-powered fundamental assessment
Confidence
85%
NSC exhibits a stable but mediocre financial health profile with a Piotroski F-Score of 4/9. The stock is severely overvalued, trading at $321.44 despite a Graham Number of $140.92 and an Intrinsic Value of $89.18. This valuation gap is exacerbated by negative year-over-year revenue (-1.70%) and earnings growth (-11.40%), resulting in an unsustainable PEG ratio of 4.12. While operational margins remain strong, the fundamental data suggests the current price is driven by momentum rather than value.
Key Strengths
Strong operating margins (31.17%) and profit margins (23.59%)
Healthy Return on Equity (ROE) of 19.25%
Consistent track record of beating quarterly earnings estimates
Strong recent price momentum (1Y Change +47.8%)
Dominant market position within the railroad industry
Key Risks
Extreme overvaluation relative to Graham Number and Intrinsic Value
Negative YoY revenue and earnings growth
Poor liquidity indicated by a Current Ratio of 0.85 and Quick Ratio of 0.67
High PEG ratio (4.12) indicating price is disconnected from growth
Bearish insider sentiment with net selling activity
AI Fair Value Estimate
Based on comprehensive analysis
$140.92
-56.2% below current price
Performance Snowflake
Multi-dimensional analysis across 5 key categories
Overall
31
Weak
15
20
70
50
0
AI Verdict
Overvalued Momentum Play
Key drivers: Massive valuation premium, Negative growth metrics, Strong operational efficiency
Confidence
90%
Value
15/100
Ref P/E 25.19, PEG 4.12, Graham Number $140.92
Positives
No standout positives identified.
Watchpoints
- Price is 2.2x the Graham Number
- Price is 3.6x the Intrinsic Value
- High P/B ratio of 4.64
Future
20/100
Ref Growth rates
Positives
- Analyst target price ($313.78) is close to current price
Watchpoints
- Revenue Growth -1.70%
- Earnings Growth -11.40%
Past
70/100
Ref Historical trends
Positives
- Strong 1Y and 3Y price appreciation
- Consistent EPS surprises over 25 quarters
Watchpoints
- Recent Q/Q EPS growth is negative (-2.4%)
Health
50/100
Ref Piotroski F-Score
Positives
- Piotroski F-Score 4/9 (Stable)
Watchpoints
- Current Ratio < 1.0
- Debt/Equity of 1.15
Dividend
0/100
Ref Dividend Strength 0/100
Positives
No standout positives identified.
Watchpoints
- No dividend strength or yield reported
Stock Price & Analyst Targets
Real-time price movements and analyst price targets
Current Price
$321.44
Analyst Target
$313.78
Upside/Downside
-2.4%
Multi-Horizon Performance vs Peers
Price momentum across 5Y → 1W horizons for NSC and closest competitors.
Updated 2026-04-23
| Company | 5Y | 3Y | 1Y | 6M | 1M | 1W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
NSC
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Primary
|
+26.9% | +62.3% | +47.8% | +14.3% | +13.3% | +6.2% |
|
EMR
Emerson Electric Co.
Peer
|
+81.5% | +40.8% | +1.0% | +6.7% | -1.6% | -1.1% |
|
ITW
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Peer
|
+29.2% | +14.8% | -7.4% | -1.7% | -1.5% | -0.6% |
|
CNI
Canadian National Railway Company
Peer
|
+15.4% | +2.8% | +19.6% | +21.0% | +12.5% | +3.9% |
|
CTAS
Cintas Corporation
Peer
|
+112.1% | +72.4% | -13.1% | -15.1% | -0.1% | +1.1% |
NSC
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Primary
5Y
+26.9%
3Y
+62.3%
1Y
+47.8%
6M
+14.3%
1M
+13.3%
1W
+6.2%
EMR
Emerson Electric Co.
Peer
5Y
+81.5%
3Y
+40.8%
1Y
+1.0%
6M
+6.7%
1M
-1.6%
1W
-1.1%
ITW
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Peer
5Y
+29.2%
3Y
+14.8%
1Y
-7.4%
6M
-1.7%
1M
-1.5%
1W
-0.6%
CNI
Canadian National Railway Company
Peer
5Y
+15.4%
3Y
+2.8%
1Y
+19.6%
6M
+21.0%
1M
+12.5%
1W
+3.9%
CTA
Cintas Corporation
Peer
5Y
+112.1%
3Y
+72.4%
1Y
-13.1%
6M
-15.1%
1M
-0.1%
1W
+1.1%
Positive values indicate cumulative gains over the specified period. Comparables pulled from the same sector to highlight whether momentum is stock-specific or industry-wide.
Historical Performance Trends
Long-term financial metrics and growth patterns
Revenue & Net Income
Profit & Operating Margins
Return on Equity (ROE)
Quarterly Revenue Growth
Historical data shows last 12 quarters (3 years)
Valuation Metrics
Key valuation ratios and pricing indicators
P/E Ratio
25.19
Forward P/E
23.99
PEG Ratio
4.12
P/B Ratio
4.64
P/S Ratio
5.93
EV/Revenue
7.27
EV/EBITDA
15.81
Market Cap
$72.19B
Profitability
Profit margins and return metrics
Profit Margin
23.59%
Operating Margin
31.17%
Gross Margin
45.95%
ROE
19.25%
ROA
5.91%
Growth
Revenue and earnings growth rates
Revenue Growth
-1.7%
Earnings Growth
-11.4%
Q/Q Revenue Growth
-1.65%
Q/Q Earnings Growth
-12.1%
Financial Health
Balance sheet strength and liquidity metrics
Debt/Equity
1.15
Moderate
Current Ratio
0.85
Weak
Quick Ratio
0.67
Poor
Cash/Share
$6.81
Financial Statement Flow
Interactive flow visualization showing how money moves through the company Q4 2025
Revenue
$3.0B
Gross Margin
32.6%
Op. Margin
38.9%
Net Margin
21.7%
Total Assets
$45.2B
Liabilities
$29.7B
Equity
$15.5B
Debt/Equity
1.91x
Operating CF
$1.1B
CapEx
$-0.7B
Free Cash Flow
$0.3B
FCF Yield
31%
Quarterly Earnings History
EPS performance vs analyst estimates
2026-04-24
$N/A
2026-01-29
$3.22
+16.5% surprise
2025-10-23
$3.3
+3.0% surprise
2025-07-29
$3.29
-0.5% surprise
Industrials Sector Comparison
Comparing NSC against 469 companies in the Industrials sector
(39 bullish, 174 neutral, 256 bearish)
P/E Ratio
25.19
This Stock
vs
98.24
Sector Avg
-74.4%
(Discount)
Return on Equity (ROE)
19.25%
This Stock
vs
-19.38%
Sector Avg
-199.3%
(Below Avg)
Profit Margin
23.59%
This Stock
vs
6.65%
Sector Avg
+254.5%
(Superior)
Debt to Equity
1.15
This Stock
vs
2.63
Sector Avg
-56.4%
(Less Debt)
Revenue Growth
-1.7%
This Stock
vs
71.29%
Sector Avg
-102.4%
(Slower)
Current Ratio
0.85
This Stock
vs
3.09
Sector Avg
-72.6%
(Weaker)
Similar Companies
Peer comparison within the same industry
| Company | AI Rating | Market Cap | P/E | ROE | Profit Margin | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
NSC
Norfolk Southern Corporation
|
BEARISH | $72.19B | 25.19 | 19.2% | 23.6% | $321.44 | |
|
EMR
Emerson Electric Co.
|
NEUTRAL | $72.17B | 31.66 | 9.4% | 12.7% | $127.58 | Compare |
|
ITW
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
|
NEUTRAL | $71.16B | 23.64 | 91.7% | 19.1% | $243.97 | Compare |
|
CNI
Canadian National Railway Company
|
NEUTRAL | $70.07B | 20.69 | 22.1% | 27.3% | $114.6 | Compare |
|
CTAS
Cintas Corporation
|
NEUTRAL | $75.51B | 41.49 | 42.2% | 17.5% | $186.72 | Compare |
NSC
Norfolk Southern...
BEARISH
Mkt Cap
$72.2B
P/E
25.2
ROE
19.2%
Price
$321.44
Recent Insider Trading
Insider buy and sell transactions from the last 6 months
| Date | Insider | Position | Transaction | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-30 | LAMPHERE GILBERT H | Director | Stock Award | 700 | - |
| 2026-01-30 | ORR JOHN FREDERICK | Chief Operating Officer | Stock Award | 1,505 | - |
| 2026-01-30 | ZAMPI JASON ANDREW | Chief Financial Officer | Stock Award | 1,075 | - |
| 2026-01-30 | GEORGE MARK R. | Chief Executive Officer | Stock Award | 3,691 | - |
| 2026-01-30 | ELKINS CLAUDE E | Officer | Stock Award | 1,304 | - |
| 2026-01-30 | MOORE CLAIBORNE L. | Officer | Stock Award | 673 | - |
| 2026-01-30 | BHATT ANIL | Officer | Stock Award | 861 | - |
| 2026-01-27 | ZAMPI JASON ANDREW | Chief Financial Officer | Stock Award | 467 | - |
| 2026-01-27 | GEORGE MARK R. | Chief Executive Officer | Stock Award | 1,400 | - |
| 2026-01-27 | ELKINS CLAUDE E | Officer | Stock Award | 1,035 | - |
| 2026-01-27 | MOORE CLAIBORNE L. | Officer | Stock Award | 501 | - |
| 2025-12-05 | CLYBURN WILLIAM JR. | Director | Purchase | 204 | $60,137 |
| 2025-11-19 | BHATT ANIL | Chief Technology Officer | Sale | 900 | $253,442 |
| 2025-11-05 | FAHMY, SAMEH | Director | Purchase | 1,650 | $466,900 |
| 2025-10-27 | ANDERSON RICHARD H | Director | Purchase | 2,600 | $732,823 |
LAMPHERE GILBERT H
Director
2026-01-30
700 shares
ORR JOHN FREDERICK
Chief Operating Officer
2026-01-30
1,505 shares
ZAMPI JASON ANDREW
Chief Financial Officer
2026-01-30
1,075 shares
GEORGE MARK R.
Chief Executive Officer
2026-01-30
3,691 shares
ELKINS CLAUDE E
Officer
2026-01-30
1,304 shares
MOORE CLAIBORNE L.
Officer
2026-01-30
673 shares
BHATT ANIL
Officer
2026-01-30
861 shares
ZAMPI JASON ANDREW
Chief Financial Officer
2026-01-27
467 shares
GEORGE MARK R.
Chief Executive Officer
2026-01-27
1,400 shares
ELKINS CLAUDE E
Officer
2026-01-27
1,035 shares
MOORE CLAIBORNE L.
Officer
2026-01-27
501 shares
CLYBURN WILLIAM JR.
Director
2025-12-05
204 shares
·
$60,137
BHATT ANIL
Chief Technology Officer
2025-11-19
900 shares
·
$253,442
FAHMY, SAMEH
Director
2025-11-05
1,650 shares
·
$466,900
ANDERSON RICHARD H
Director
2025-10-27
2,600 shares
·
$732,823
Insider transactions can signal confidence or concerns about company prospects
SEC Filings
Recent regulatory filings from the SEC EDGAR database
8-K
DEF 14A
10-K
8-K
8-K
8-K
10-Q
8-K
8-K
Data sourced from SEC EDGAR. AI summaries generated automatically.
Wall Street Analysts
Professional analyst ratings and price targets
Consensus
HOLD
18 analysts
Bernstein
2026-03-31
Outperform
Outperform
Evercore ISI Group
2026-03-19
In-Line
In-Line
Baird
2026-02-02
Neutral
Neutral
JP Morgan
2026-01-30
Neutral
Neutral
Citigroup
2026-01-30
Neutral
Neutral
RBC Capital
2026-01-30
Sector Perform
Sector Perform
Barclays
2026-01-30
Overweight
Overweight
JP Morgan
2026-01-12
Neutral
Neutral
Citigroup
2026-01-08
Neutral
Neutral
Barclays
2025-12-16
Overweight
Overweight
Past News Coverage
Recent headlines mentioning NSC from our newsroom.
Newest → oldest
No matching news yet.