What is Norfolk Southern Corporation's (NSC) StockRank?

MoatMap's StockRank for Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) is 44/100, with a Hold signal. This is a composite score combining Quality (51), Value (31), and Momentum (53) factor ranks across MoatMap's 20,000+ stock universe.

Does Norfolk Southern Corporation have an economic moat?

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) has a Quality factor score of 51/100. The Quality factor combines ROIC, Piotroski F-Score, and leverage — the financial fingerprints of a durable competitive advantage. A Quality score above 70 typically indicates a company with the financial characteristics of a moated business.

Is Norfolk Southern Corporation a buy, hold, or sell?

MoatMap's current signal for Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) is Hold, based on a StockRank of 44/100. Signals are derived mechanically from the StockRank composite and should be one input among many — combine with your own thesis on management, competitive position, and valuation.

What sector is Norfolk Southern Corporation in?

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) operates in the Industrials sector, specifically the Railroads industry (United States).

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NSC

HOLDFLAG

Norfolk Southern Corporation · Industrials · United States · $69.1B · Avg Vol: $370M/d

StockRank

P/E (TTM)

26.4x

ROE

17.6%

D/E

1.1x

Dividend %

1.7%

Director Trades · 180d

None in 180d →

Buybacks · 180d

None in 180d →

AI CONVICTION THESIS

Norfolk Southern is a Class I railroad with a powerful duopoly moat in the eastern US. It stands to benefit from the nearshoring of manufacturing to North America. However, recent operational challenges and high capital intensity keep us in a monitoring stance.

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Norfolk Southern Corporation operates a vast freight railroad network primarily serving the eastern United States, transporting a diverse range of commodities including coal, intermodal traffic, and automotive products. Its extensive infrastructure and strategic routes create significant barriers to entry, solidifying its position as one of the seven Class I railroads in North America. The company is a vital component of the nation's supply chain.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY (USD)

Year	2022	2023	2024	2025	CAGR
Revenue	12.7B	12.2B	12.1B	12.2B	-1.5%
EPS	14.34	8.10	11.59	12.80	-3.7%
Shares	248.4M	246.0M	246.6M	244.7M	-1.5%
Debt	15.6B	17.6B	17.5B	17.3B	3.5%
Equity	12.7B	12.8B	14.3B	15.5B	6.9%
Op CF	4.2B	3.2B	4.1B	4.4B	1.1%
Inv CF	-1.6B	-2.2B	-2.8B	-2.6B	—
Fin CF	-3.0B	115.0M	-1.2B	-1.9B	—

PRICE (1Y)-3.8%

SMA 50SMA 200

$300.08

RSI (14)

44.3

52W High

$326.00

From 52W High

0.9%

SCORE BREAKDOWN

Quality

ROIC

10.7%64.5

ROE

17.6%82.6

GP/Assets

12.4%36.9

Op. Margin

32.3%96.0

FCF/Assets

2.9%51.3

Piotroski

651.7

Int. Cover

5.6x40.9

D/E Ratio

1.12x17.2

Current Ratio

0.91x9.3

Value

P/E (TTM)

26.4x39.4

EV/EBITDA

15.5x34.1

P/FCF

53.2x21.2

P/B

4.5x22.4

P/S

5.8x13.8

Div Yield

1.7%47.0

Momentum

52W High %

92%80.1

RS 6M

-8%58.2

SMA 50/200

1.05x57.9

EPS Rev 4W

+0.4%68.3

EPS Rev 12W

-0.0%58.4

EPS Improve

+14%27.0

Q Growth

-27%19.4

FUNDAMENTALS

Market Cap

$69.1B

P/E (Forward)

23.2x

Gross Margin

45.9%

SECTOR PEERS

Closest peers in Industrials, ranked by industry match, size, and score similarity. Cross-listings of NSC are excluded.

Ticker	Company	Mkt Cap	StockRank	Signal
NSC	Norfolk Southern Corporation(you)	$69.1B	44	HOLD
CP	Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited	$80.4B	44	HOLD
CSX	CSX Corporation	$85.1B	60	HOLD
CNI	Canadian National Railway Company	$72.1B	66	BUY
WAB	Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation	$44.3B	65	HOLD
9020.T	East Japan Railway Company	$26.4B	32	SELL
601006.SS	Daqin Railway Co., Ltd.	$15.5B	46	HOLD
601816.SS	Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway Co., Ltd.	$36.3B	64	HOLD
064350.KS	Hyundai Rotem Company	$14.5B	50	HOLD
9022.T	Central Japan Railway Company	$21.8B	60	HOLD

Peer medians: ROE 8.5% · P/E 20.5x · Gross margin 25.1%

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) — Stock Score Summary

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) has a MoatMap StockRank of 44/100 based on Quality (51/100), Value (31/100), and Momentum (53/100) factor scores. The current signal is HOLD. Norfolk Southern is a Class I railroad with a powerful duopoly moat in the eastern US. It stands to benefit from the nearshoring of manufacturing to North America. However, recent operational challenges and high capital intensity keep us in a monitoring stance.

Key Financial Metrics

Price	$300.08
Market Cap	$69.1B
P/E (TTM)	26.45
P/E (Forward)	23.17
Price/Book	4.46
Return on Equity	17.6%
Return on Invested Capital	10.7%
Debt/Equity	111.59
Gross Margin	45.9%
Operating Margin	32.3%
Revenue Growth	0.2%
Dividend Yield	1.7%
Free Cash Flow	$1.3B

Norfolk Southern Corporation operates in the Railroads industry, part of the Industrials sector (United States).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Norfolk Southern Corporation’s (NSC) StockRank?: MoatMap’s StockRank for Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) is 44/100, with a Hold signal. It is a composite of Quality (51), Value (31), and Momentum (53) factor ranks across MoatMap’s 20,000+ stock universe.
Does Norfolk Southern Corporation have an economic moat?: Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) has a Quality factor score of 51/100. The Quality factor combines ROIC, Piotroski F-Score, and leverage — the financial fingerprints of a durable competitive advantage. A Quality score above 70 typically indicates a company with the characteristics of a moated business.
Is Norfolk Southern Corporation a buy, hold, or sell?: MoatMap’s current signal for Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) is Hold, based on a StockRank of 44/100. Signals are derived mechanically from the StockRank composite and should be one input among many — combine with your own thesis on management, competitive position, and valuation.
What sector is Norfolk Southern Corporation in?: Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) operates in the Industrials sector, specifically the Railroads industry (United States).