CSX [CSX] vs Norfolk Southern [NSC] Detailed Stock Comparison

TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary

Based on 21 vital metrics comparison: CSX Corp wins in 9 metrics, Norfolk Southern Corporation wins in 12 metrics, with 0 ties. Norfolk Southern Corporation appears stronger overall.

View Metrics Details

Vital Metrics Comparison

Metric CSX Corp Norfolk Southern Corporation Better
P/E Ratio (TTM) 28.16 23.70 Norfolk Southern Corporation
Price-to-Book Ratio 6.13 4.36 Norfolk Southern Corporation
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 148.22 114.74 Norfolk Southern Corporation
PEG Ratio 77.60 -2.08 CSX Corp
EV/EBITDA 15.49 15.04 Norfolk Southern Corporation
Profit Margin (TTM) 20.50% 23.59% Norfolk Southern Corporation
Operating Margin (TTM) 32.72% 31.17% CSX Corp
EBITDA Margin (TTM) 32.72% 31.17% CSX Corp
Return on Equity 22.51% 19.25% CSX Corp
Return on Assets (TTM) 6.86% 5.91% CSX Corp
Free Cash Flow (TTM) $1.71B $2.16B Norfolk Southern Corporation
Dividend Yield 1.55% 1.76% Norfolk Southern Corporation
1-Year Return 48.10% 26.27% CSX Corp
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) 5.72 5.57 Norfolk Southern Corporation
Enterprise Value $99.48B $84.18B CSX Corp
EV/Revenue Ratio 7.06 6.91 Norfolk Southern Corporation
Gross Profit Margin (TTM) 31.64% 32.58% Norfolk Southern Corporation
Revenue per Share (TTM) $8 $54 Norfolk Southern Corporation
Earnings per Share (Diluted) $1.54 $12.75 Norfolk Southern Corporation
Beta (Stock Volatility) 1.25 1.31 CSX Corp
Short % of Float 2.18% 3.77% CSX Corp

CSX Corp vs Norfolk Southern Corporation Stock Performance Analysis

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Performance Comparison

Short-term Returns

Stock1D1W1M3M6MYTD
CSX Corp-0.38%0.59%3.79%19.13%27.46%30.66%
Norfolk Southern Corporation-1.16%0.11%-1.79%6.74%3.60%7.80%

Long-term Returns

Stock1Y3Y5Y10Y15Y20Y
CSX Corp48.10%43.24%50.63%433.30%475.21%1,228.77%
Norfolk Southern Corporation26.27%40.05%20.07%268.48%342.31%522.59%

Performance & Financial Health Analysis: CSX Corp vs Norfolk Southern Corporation

MetricCSXNSC
Market Information
Market Cap i$85.89B$72.19B
Market Cap CategoryLarge capLarge cap
10 Day Avg. Volume i10,772,4061,338,887
90 Day Avg. Volume i12,459,7921,337,079
Last Close$47.39$310.28
52 Week Range$31.80 - $48.03$248.82 - $326.00
% from 52W High-1.33%-4.82%
All-Time High$48.03 (Jun 12, 2026)$326.00 (May 27, 2026)
% from All-Time High-1.33%-4.82%
Growth Metrics
Quarterly Revenue Growth-0.01%-0.02%
Quarterly Earnings Growth-0.02%-0.12%
Financial Health
Profit Margin (TTM) i0.21%0.24%
Operating Margin (TTM) i0.33%0.31%
Return on Equity (TTM) i0.23%0.19%
Debt to Equity (MRQ) i148.22114.74
Cash & Liquidity
Book Value per Share (MRQ)$7.07$69.28
Cash per Share (MRQ)$0.36$6.81
Operating Cash Flow (TTM) i$4.61B$4.36B
Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) i$970.50M$1.45B
Dividends
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i1.55%1.76%
Last 12-Month Dividend i$0.66$5.40

Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: CSX Corp vs Norfolk Southern Corporation

MetricCSX (Apr 24, 2026)NSC (Apr 24, 2026)
Price Ratios
P/E Ratio (TTM) i28.1623.70
Forward P/E i20.7222.56
PEG Ratio i77.60-2.08
Price to Sales (TTM) i5.725.57
Price to Book (MRQ) i6.134.36
Market Capitalization
Market Capitalization i$85.89B$72.19B
Enterprise Value i$99.48B$84.18B
Enterprise Value Metrics
Enterprise to Revenue i7.066.91
Enterprise to EBITDA i15.4915.04
Risk & Other Metrics
Beta i1.251.31
Book Value per Share (MRQ) i$7.07$69.28

Financial Statements Comparison: CSX Corp vs Norfolk Southern Corporation

Financial Metrics

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Revenue

Operating Margin

Profit Margin

Long Term Debt

Income Flow Analysis

Financial Statements Comparison

Income Statement

MetricCSX (2025)NSC (2025)
Revenue/Sales i14.09B12.18B
Cost of Goods Sold i9.41B7.75B
COGS % of Revenue i66.8%63.7%
Gross Profit i4.69B4.43B
Gross Margin i33.2%36.3%
Research & Development iN/AN/A
Operating Income (EBIT) i4.72B4.57B
Operating Margin i33.5%37.5%
EBITDA i6.46B5.96B
EBITDA Margin i45.8%48.9%
Pre-Tax Income i3.77B3.67B
Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue i26.7%30.1%
Income Tax i880.00M792.00M
Income Tax % of Revenue i6.2%6.5%
Net Income (Profit) i2.89B2.87B
Profit Margin i20.5%23.6%

Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics

MetricCSX (2025)NSC (2025)
Cash & Equivalents i670.00M1.53B
Total Current Assets i2.55B3.20B
Total Current Assets % of Revenue i18.1%26.3%
Total Current Liabilities i3.13B3.78B
Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue i22.2%31.0%
Long-Term Debt i18.64B16.63B
Long-Term Debt % of Revenue i132.3%136.5%
Total Shareholders Equity i13.16B15.55B
Retained Earnings i10.56B13.24B
Retained Earnings % of Revenue i74.9%108.7%
Property, Plant & Equipment i28.09B11.50B

Cash Flow Statement Comparison

MetricCSX (2025)NSC (2025)
Operating Cash Flow i4.85B4.61B
Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue i34.4%37.9%
Capital Expenditures i-2.82B-2.04B
Free Cash Flow i1.71B2.16B
FCF Margin i12.1%17.7%
Debt Repayment i-613.00M-559.00M
Common Stock Repurchase i-1.40B-534.00M

Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis

MetricCSXNSC
Shares Short i40.41M8.47M
Short Ratio i3.166.54
Short % of Float i2.18%3.77%
Shares Outstanding i1.86B224.42M
Float Shares i1.86B224.20M
% Held by Insiders i0.24%0.08%
% Held by Institutions i80.37%78.52%
% Held by Public i19.39%21.40%

Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: CSX Corp vs Norfolk Southern Corporation

MetricCSXNSC
Last 12-Month Dividend i$0.66$5.40
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i1.55%1.76%
3-Year Avg Annual Dividend i$0.49$5.40
3-Year Avg Dividend Yield i0.36%0.55%
3-Year Total Dividends i$1.47$16.20
Ex-Dividend DateFeb 27, 2026Feb 06, 2026