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Upturn AI Summary - About
Norfolk Southern Corporation(NSC)
Advisory History & Simulated Performance *
*as per simulation (see disclosures)- ALL
- 1Y
- 1M
- 1W
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- PASS (Skip)
Stock price based on last close Advisory Performance History (Simulated)
Upturn Advisory & Investor View for NSC
11/09/2026: NSC (2-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.
Norfolk Southern Corporation is a major, capital-intensive Class I railroad that serves a vast network across the eastern United States. The company benefits from a solid competitive moat provided by its extensive infrastructure and critical role in industrial logistics. Its growth story is centered on optimizing operations and expanding its intermodal capacity, although it remains sensitive to cyclical freight volumes and energy demand. Primary risks include significant regulatory oversight, intense competition from the trucking sector, and managing high operational costs. The stock is typically well-suited for long-term investors focused on dividend stability and value within the industrial transportation sector, while observers should monitor ongoing safety and operational efficiency initiatives.
How to Read the Upturn Advisory
The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.
Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.
Investor Fit
| Investor style | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth investor | Mixed fit | The company is a mature, capital-intensive infrastructure player rather than a high-growth technology stock. |
| Momentum investor | Mixed fit | Momentum may be present during periods of economic expansion, but is generally dependent on broader market cycles. |
| Value investor | Strong fit | The stock often appeals to value investors seeking stable, established businesses with significant tangible assets. |
| Dividend investor | Strong fit | Norfolk Southern has a consistent history of dividend payments, making it a suitable candidate for income-focused portfolios. |
| Low-risk investor | Mixed fit | While established, the company faces operational, regulatory, and cyclical economic risks typical of the transportation sector. |
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Price volatility | Medium | The stock price is subject to fluctuations based on industrial demand, energy prices, and overall economic health. |
| Valuation risk | Medium | Railroad valuations are often tied to long-term interest rates and growth expectations in industrial production. |
| Competition risk (Trucking and Rail) | Medium / high | Competition from the trucking industry for short-haul freight and other Class I railroads for long-haul routes remains intense. |
| Business quality | Strong | The company operates a critical, high-barrier-to-entry infrastructure network with limited direct competition. |
| Dividend income | Low | Dividend payouts are generally stable, though they can be impacted by significant capital expenditure requirements. |
| Execution risk | Medium / high | Successfully managing operational efficiency while maintaining safety standards is critical to profitability. |
Price Behavior
Strong Uptrend
The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.
Smooth
The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 14.2% | Avg. Invested days 52 | Today’s Advisory WEAK BUY |
Upturn Advisory Rating  | Upturn Advisory Performance  3.0 | Stock Returns Performance  2.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 11/09/2026 |
Upturn Scorecard
Upturn Star Rating 
Company Fundamentals
Financial Health Rating
Growth Momentum Score
Ownership
Top 5 Institutional Investors
Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)
Economic Dimensions
Quantitative Style Profile
Style Classification
Quality Focused
Key Highlights
Company Size Large-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 71.86B USD | Price to earnings Ratio 26.82 | 1Y Target Price 360.61 |
Price to earnings Ratio 26.82 | 1Y Target Price 360.61 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 913.4K shares | Beta 1.18 | 52 Weeks Range 273.18 - 355.72 | Updated Date 11/08/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 273.18 - 355.72 | Updated Date 11/08/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) 1.65% | Basic EPS (TTM) 11.93 |
How Company Makes Money
| Business area | What it includes | Retail investor read |
|---|---|---|
| Merchandise | Chemicals, metals, automotive, and agricultural freight. | This is the core, diverse business segment that drives steady, volume-based revenue. |
| Intermodal | Containerized freight transport. | This area is key to capturing global trade growth and domestic e-commerce volume. |
| Geography (Eastern US) | Network covering 22 states and the District of Columbia. | The company’s revenue is geographically concentrated in the industrial and populated East, making it sensitive to regional economic performance. |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Earnings Date
Report Date 2026-10-22 | When Before Market | Estimate 3.48 | Actual 3.62 |
Profitability
Profit Margin 20.71% | Operating Margin (TTM) 35.42% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 6.03% | Return on Equity (TTM) 16.84% |
Valuation
Trailing PE 26.82 | Forward PE 22.57 | Enterprise Value 86.88B | Price to Sales(TTM) 5.54 |
Enterprise Value 86.88B | Price to Sales(TTM) 5.54 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 6.7 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 15.42 | Shares Outstanding 224.62M | Shares Floating 224.25M |
Shares Outstanding 224.62M | Shares Floating 224.25M | ||
Percent Insiders 0.05 | Percent Institutions 77.6 |
Financial Metrics
🧭 Investment Snapshot
Total Revenue (Scale)
Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.
Net Income (Profit)
Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.
Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)
Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.
📈 Growth & Strength
Operating Income (Core Profit)
Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.
EBITDA (Cash Earnings)
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.
Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)
Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.
🛡️ Financial Safety
Cash (Liquidity Buffer)
Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.
Total Debt (Leverage Risk)
Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.
Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)
Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.
🧱 Balance Sheet Strength
Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)
Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.
Total Assets (Asset Base)
The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.
Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)
Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.
⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors
Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)
Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.
Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)
Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.
Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)
Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.
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