Norfolk Southern (NSC)
NYSEIndustrialsRailroadsSnapshot 2026-07-31
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Create your account →NYSEIndustrialsRailroadsSnapshot 2026-07-31
Reading NSC? Create a free portfolio, then add this holding for ongoing Reports and tracking. Track it in a free portfolio. No credit card.
Create your account →Daily closes. Earnings/event dots are placed inline.
Industries move in repeating boom-and-bust cycles. This shows where this stock’s industry sits in that cycle, stage by stage (recovery → expansion → supercycle → steady → deceleration → contraction), from its fundamentals (orders, revenue, capital spending), not the stock’s price.
A booming industry is a tailwind for the names in it; a contracting one is a headwind. Companies in the same industry tend to rise and fall together with the cycle, the way a tide lifts and lowers every boat in the harbor at once, so a large part of a stock’s swing can come from where its industry sits rather than from the company itself. It’s context for reading the company’s results, not a buy/sell call. Full explanation →
Industrials is in steady. Describes the industry's cycle state, not a call on this stock.
The stage band shows the industry’s cycle over the chart’s timeline (each color a stage); a ▼ marks a quarter its growth inflected down — amber is an unconfirmed watch, red is confirmed the next quarter. Use “Overlay cycle on chart” to tint the price chart by stage. The industry’s fundamentals, not a signal on this stock.
The reason to own it still holds.
View ThesisRevenue is growing steadily — about 3% over the past year.
View GrowthMiddle-of-the-pack quality for its industry.
View QualityManagement screens strong on capital allocation, earnings delivery, the balance sheet.
View ManagementExpectations look reasonable — what the market is pricing in sits in line with or below what analysts forecast.
View ValuationModerate volatility — typically moves about 1% a day.
View RiskMostly healthy — no soft spokes
NSC's growth depends on maintaining strong earnings momentum to justify its current price. Revenue grew 11% year over year, and the last quarter beat expectations by 9%. It trades at 26× P/E versus a peer median of 24×. This suggests the price reflects less growth than forecasted. If NSC cuts guidance after a recent raise, it could face a credibility hit. Peer multiples imply a price about 15% below where it trades. Our read remains intact.
Trailing returns as of 2026-07-31. NSC is total return (includes dividends); the S&P 500 benchmark is price return (the index excludes dividends).
Based on 22 analysts currently covering NSC (as of Jul 2026).
Based on 7 Wall Street analysts offering 12-month price targets for NSC in the last 4 months.
A consensus fair price across 10 valuation methods, at three horizons. As of 2026-08-01. Estimates are diagnostics, not price targets. Short-horizon estimates are close to coin-flips, so confidence is a method-agreement read, not a prediction.
Today's peer multiple on trailing earnings, with no growth credited. This is the headline read.
Adds projected growth, so it leans optimistic by design. Read it as upside context, not a base case.
A price-focused, side-by-side fair-value read versus Industrials (broad) — fair value, gap to price, and forward P/E.
New COO could enhance productivity and strategy.
Not investment advice. Scores describe historical and current data; they are not forecasts of future returns. Consult a licensed advisor before making investment decisions.
End-of-day figures as of 2026-07-31. EPS is implied from price ÷ P/E. Not investment advice.
Current $335.48
The last 12 months of price, then the range of analyst 12-month targets from today’s $335.48.
Analyst ratings and price targets are third-party Wall Street estimates, not QuarterlyIQ’s view. Not investment advice.
A long-thesis check that carries the widest uncertainty of the three horizons.
Below average on quality vs scored peers
Direction of the business behind the multiple. Bands are backend reads; trailing-12-month basis.
Appointment of COO supports management objectives.
Merger uncertainty poses risks to growth objectives.
Regulatory freeze impacts merger progress.