NSC Stock Analysis
NYQ · Industrials · Railroads
$313.56
+0.56 (+0.18%)
NSC Interactive Price Chart & Trading Signals
NSC Stock Snapshot — Valuation, Risk & Technical Signals
NSC Key Fundamentals, Analyst Targets & Company Profile
Key Financial Ratios
Market Cap
$70.43B
P/E Ratio
26.78
Forward P/E
21.90
PEG Ratio
3.69
P/B Ratio
4.33
EPS
$11.71
Dividend Yield
1.73%
52W Range
$277.80 – $358.60
Beta
1.27
Volume
0.1M
ROE
17.0%
Profit Margin
21.0%
Revenue Growth
11.4%
Gross Margin
45.2%
EV/EBITDA
15.25
Analyst Target
$363.39
The trailing price-to-earnings ratio stands at 26.8x. Forward P/E of 21.9x implies earnings expansion expected. Price-to-book is 4.33x. EV/EBITDA sits at 15.25x. Market capitalization is $70.43B. Revenue is growing at 11.4% on a trailing basis. Earnings are compressing at -4.4%. Profit margins are 21.0%. Return on equity is 17.0%. Beta of 1.27 indicates elevated market sensitivity.
Analyst Consensus
Recommendation
Hold
Low Target
$297.00
Mean Target
$363.39
High Target
$414.00
Based on 18 analysts
About NSC
Norfolk Southern Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail transportation of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished goods in the United States. The company transports agriculture, forest, and consumer products comprising soybeans, wheat, corn, fertilizers, livestock and poultry feed, food products, food oils, flour, sweeteners, ethanol, lumber and wood products, pulp board and paper products, wood fibers, wood pulp, beverages, and canned goods; chemicals, including sulfur and related chemicals, petroleum products comprising crude oil, chlorine and bleaching compounds, plastics, rubber, industrial chemicals, chemical wastes, sand, and natural gas liquids; metals and construction materials, such as steel, aluminum products, machinery, scrap metals, cement, aggregates, minerals, clay, transportation equipment, and military-related products; and automotive, including finished motor vehicles and automotive parts, as well as coal. It also transports overseas freight through various Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports; and operates an intermodal network. Norfolk Southern Corporation was incorporated in 1980 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
NSC Deep Dive Analysis
Bottom Line
Verdict
OvervaluedBest for
Quality-focused portfoliosWatch out for
Premium valuation, High volatility, Earnings declineNon-zero inputs
4/5Counts non-zero values for price, P/E, beta, macro risk, and revenue growth; zero may mean unavailable or be a genuine zero.
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) trades above our multi-model fair value estimate of $119.21 by approximately 62.0%. Trailing P/E: 26.8x. Profitability signals include profit margin of 21.0% and return on equity of 17.0%. Recent growth metrics show revenue growth of 11.4% and earnings growth of -4.4%. Risk profile: elevated market beta of 1.27. Consensus: hold.
Valuation, Growth & Risk
Valuation
Overvalued
P/E 26.8x
Price is above what fundamentals suggest.
Growth
Expanding
Rev 11.4%
Revenue is outpacing the market.
Risk
Elevated
Beta 1.27
Expect bigger swings than the market.
Valuation Snapshot
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) trades above our multi-model fair value estimate of $119.21 by approximately 62.0%. The trailing price-to-earnings ratio stands at 26.8x. Forward P/E of 21.9x suggests earnings compression ahead. Price-to-sales is 5.6x. Price-to-book is 4.3x. EV/EBITDA sits at 15.3x. Market capitalization is $70.43B.
Why it matters: Paying a premium works only if the company keeps growing faster than expected.
Growth & Profitability
Revenue is growing at 11.4% on a trailing basis. Earnings are compressing at -4.4%. Profit margins are 21.0%. Return on equity is 17.0%. Return on assets is 6.0%.
Why it matters: Growing revenue with healthy margins usually means the business is gaining market share or pricing power.
Risk Profile
Beta of 1.27 indicates elevated market sensitivity. Net debt position is $16.08B.
Why it matters: A riskier stock can fall more in a downturn. Make sure your portfolio can handle the volatility.
Analyst Context
Analyst consensus target of $363.39 implies 15.9% upside. Target range spans $297.00 to $414.00. 18 analysts cover the stock. Consensus recommendation: hold.
Why it matters: Analyst targets reflect what professionals expect over 12 months. A wide gap between price and target can mean the market disagrees with the consensus.
Investor Fit
Strong profitability metrics may appeal to quality-focused portfolios.
Takeaway: Match the stock's risk-reward profile with your own goals and time horizon. No single metric tells the whole story.
Data Methodology & Sources
Market Data (Facts)
- Price, volume, and market cap: Yahoo Finance (may be delayed)
- P/E, EPS, revenue, and debt: Yahoo Finance fundamentals
- Analyst estimates: Yahoo Finance (coverage and update times vary)
- Insider transactions: Yahoo Finance (reporting may be delayed)
QuantSoar Model (Derived)
- Fair value: available outputs from seven models; outliers are filtered using MAD (k=3.5), then combined with fixed model weights.
- Margin of Safety = (Fair Value − Displayed Price) / Displayed Price × 100
- Composite Score: 40% Value + 30% Momentum + 30% Risk
- Verdict Gauge: Base 50 + Valuation (up to ±25) + Whale sentiment (up to ±10) + Insider buying (+5) + Macro risk (up to ±10) + Technical signal (up to ±10). Analyst consensus is separate.
Model outputs are estimates based on available data and are not investment advice. Cross-check with primary sources before making investment decisions.
NSC Overvalued
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) trades above our multi-model fair value estimate of $119.21 by approximately 62.0%.
Frequently Asked Questions
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About the Author
Phasakorn Traklang (Peach) — Founder
Phasakorn Traklang (Peach) is the founder of QuantSoar, bringing expertise in SEO, web development, and technical analytics to build an AI-powered investment platform accessible to retail investors worldwide.
Connect on LinkedInInvestment Disclaimer: Tax treatment can depend on tax residence, account type, and tax year. This information is general and is not personal tax or investment advice. SEC
Data: Yahoo Finance / SEC EDGAR / Alpha Vantage / Finnhub. AI outputs verified against source data.