Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) earns a Roarable Rating of B (Buy) with 73/100 RQD Confidence. High-quality cash engine (steady margins, 13% return on capital) with steady institutional support. The company’s underlying cash engine and institutional positioning keep the composite score in the Green Buy zone.
As of 2026-11-02, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is rated B (Buy / BUY) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 73/100 at a spot price of $342.64 (+0.13% 1D, market cap $76.86B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 14/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 16/20, Executive Insider Alignment 14/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 14/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 15/20. Across 485 tracked Industrials issuers, NSC ranks #29 in composite RQD confidence.
Within the Industrials sector (Railroads), NSC carries a Roarable B (73/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 26.8x, gross margin of —, and ROIC of 13.0%. By comparison, CP (Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited) holds a C grade (63/100 RQD, P/E 32.8x, ROIC 9.9%, cap $76.84B) and CNI (Canadian National Railway Company) posts a C+ grade (67/100 RQD, P/E 32.8x, ROIC 9.9%, cap $74.94B). Among the 5-stock peer group, NSC leads on earnings multiple (26.8x) while CSX leads on capital efficiency (17.2% ROIC).
Per NSC's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0000702165), Norfolk Southern Corporation generated $12.18B in revenue (+0.5% YoY), $2.87B in net income, and $2.16B in free cash flow against $45.24B in total assets and $13.36B in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Big institutional funds and options desks are actively positioning on the bullish side.. Primary risk factors monitored: Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
Impersonal quantitative research (0–100 RQD rubric) — not individualized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Full Disclaimer
20D Institutional Volume Accumulation (±3.7% realized swing band)
SEC Form 4 / 13F Thermometer: 75% Net Buy • Cannibal Buyback (-2.08% YoY Shares)
Macro rate sensitivity & RSI-14 (66.4) create a -6 pt regime headwind
Even with a 73/100 (B) score, NSC faces multiple-compression risk if 26.8x trailing P/E re-rate toward historical sector medians or if hyperscaler/enterprise customer concentration slows in upcoming 10-Q filings.
Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.
Dilution & Margin Drag: Cannibal Buyback (-2.08% YoY Shares) — any gross margin slip below 49.5% triggers an automatic RQD downgrade.
Technical & Forensic Kill-Switch: A daily close below the 50D SMA ($325.97) or 200D SMA ($315.62) invalidates the momentum regime and cuts Target Base ($365.77) toward Bear Floor ($280.96).
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) advanced +0.13% to $342.64, trading at 80% of its 52-week range ($277.8 – $358.6). High-quality cash engine (steady margins, 13% return on capital) with steady institutional support.
Yahoo! Finance Canada report covering Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Seeking Alpha report covering Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
24/7 Wall St. report covering Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
TradingView report covering Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
The Courier Express report covering Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Simply Wall St report covering Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Schneider National (NYSE:SNDR) has entered a new partnership with Norfolk Southern to expand domestic intermodal capacity in the eastern U.S. The collaboration combines Schneider National's asset based logistics network
Schneider National (NYSE:SNDR) reported higher third-quarter earnings as pricing gains, productivity improvements and cost-control efforts helped offset uneven freight demand and lower equipment counts in parts of its tr
Schneider is making a monumental shift in its intermodal operations, moving all eastern rail business from CSX to Norfolk Southern. This strategic partnership aims to unlock significant growth, enhance capacity flexibili
Multi-year comparable XBRL diluted share count not disclosed (ETF or recent listing).
vs. +0.5% actual YoY revenue growth (assuming 9.25% cost of equity & 16.5x terminal multiple).
No active Ellis Vennor swing setup published on NSC today. View full Setup Ledger →
No direct multi-tier Butterfly edges indexed yet for NSC. Explore sector supply chains on /butterfly.
Across 485 tracked Industrials securities in the Roarable RQD universe, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) ranks #29 by composite RQD confidence (73/100, grade B) and #20 by equity capitalization ($76.86B). Within this direct 5-issuer industry benchmark cohort, NSC leads on earnings valuation at 26.8x trailing P/E, while CSX leads on capital efficiency and profitability with 17.2% ROIC and — gross margin. NSC currently leads its immediate peer cohort in composite quantitative strength at 73/100 (B).
| Ticker / Company | Roarable Grade | RQD Score | Trailing P/E | Gross Margin | ROIC | 1D Change | Market Cap | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSC
ACTIVE
Norfolk Southern Corporation | B | 73/100 | 26.8x | — | 13.0% | +0.13% | $76.86B | Benchmark Subject |
| CP Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited | C | 63/100 | 32.8x | — | 9.9% | +1.48% | $76.84B | /cp-vs-nsc → |
| CNI Canadian National Railway Company | C+ | 67/100 | 32.8x | — | 9.9% | -0.30% | $74.94B | /cni-vs-nsc → |
| CSX CSX Corporation | C+ | 67/100 | 33.3x | — | 17.2% | -0.48% | $96.30B | /csx-vs-nsc → |
| WAB Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation | C | 64/100 | 41.0x | 34.1% | 11.1% | -2.09% | $47.92B | /wab-vs-nsc → |
In its most recent audited fiscal period (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31), Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) reported GAAP revenue of $12.18B (+0.5% vs. FY2024 revenue of $12.12B , and +0.2% cumulative change since FY2023) , GAAP net income of $2.87B, operating cash flow of $4.36B, and free cash flow of $2.16B (+29.1% YoY). On the balance sheet, NSC closed FY2025 with $45.24B in total assets against $13.36B in total debt (Altman Z-Score: 2.53, Piotroski F-Score: 7/9).
| Fiscal Period | Filing Date | Revenue | Net Income | Operating Cash Flow | Free Cash Flow | Total Assets | Total Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 (FY) | 2025-12-31 | $12.18B | $2.87B | $4.36B | $2.16B | $45.24B | $13.36B |
| FY2024 (FY) | 2024-12-31 | $12.12B | $2.62B | $4.05B | $1.67B | $43.68B | $13.22B |
| FY2023 (FY) | 2023-12-31 | $12.16B | $1.83B | $3.18B | $2.63B | $42.27B | $9.89B |
As of 2026-11-02, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is rated B (Buy / BUY) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 73/100 at a spot price of $342.64 (+0.13% 1D, market cap $76.86B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 14/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 16/20, Executive Insider Alignment 14/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 14/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 15/20. Across 485 tracked Industrials issuers, NSC ranks #29 in composite RQD confidence.
Within the Industrials sector (Railroads), NSC carries a Roarable B (73/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 26.8x, gross margin of —, and ROIC of 13.0%. By comparison, CP (Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited) holds a C grade (63/100 RQD, P/E 32.8x, ROIC 9.9%, cap $76.84B) and CNI (Canadian National Railway Company) posts a C+ grade (67/100 RQD, P/E 32.8x, ROIC 9.9%, cap $74.94B). Among the 5-stock peer group, NSC leads on earnings multiple (26.8x) while CSX leads on capital efficiency (17.2% ROIC).
Per NSC's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0000702165), Norfolk Southern Corporation generated $12.18B in revenue (+0.5% YoY), $2.87B in net income, and $2.16B in free cash flow against $45.24B in total assets and $13.36B in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Big institutional funds and options desks are actively positioning on the bullish side.. Primary risk factors monitored: Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
NSC last traded at $342.64 (+0.13% on volume of 641,907 shares), positioning the stock +5.11% above its 50-day simple moving average ($325.97) and +8.56% above its 200-day simple moving average ($315.62). Across its 52-week range of $277.80 to $358.60, NSC sits at the 80.2% percentile with a 14-day RSI of 66.4 (BULLISH MOMENTUM) and an implied next-earnings move of ±3.7% ($329.96 to $355.32).
Why NSC Stock advanced +0.13% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash. High-quality cash engine (steady margins, 13% return on capital) with steady institutional support.
Per the Roarable RQD rating, NSC scores 73 out of 100 with a letter grade of B and a verdict label of "Roarable Buy — Good Risk/Reward." The five pillars are as follows:
Taken together, the rating suggests a company with sound cash generation, institutional support, and moderate balance sheet strength, but whose valuation (26.8x trailing P/E, 14.1x EV/EBITDA) already reflects much of that quality. A prospective investor should weigh the upside drivers (improving forward earnings multiple to 24.9x, institutional flow) against the valuation tradeoff and the modest 2.81% FCF yield.
Norfolk Southern Corporation is a NYSE-listed issuer classified in the Industrials sector and Railroads industry, per the SEC financials and profile. The profile identifies a market capitalization of $76.9B. The source data does not itemize the company's specific products, customers, or revenue streams, and does not describe the business model beyond its sector and industry classification. Operating margin is 35.8% and net margin is 23.6%, per the market data.
| Period | Revenue | Operating Income | Net Income | EPS | FCF | Cash | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2025 | $12180.0M | $4356.0M | $2873.0M | N/A | $2157.0M | $1530.0M | $13360.0M |
| FY 2024 | $12123.0M | $4071.0M | $2622.0M | N/A | $1671.0M | $1641.0M | $13219.2M |
| FY 2023 | $12156.0M | $2851.0M | $1827.0M | N/A | $2632.0M | N/A | $9892.1M |
Per the SEC financials, revenue was broadly flat across the three reported periods, while operating income and net income rose from FY 2023 to FY 2025. Free cash flow declined from $2632.0M in FY 2023 to $1671.0M in FY 2024 before recovering to $2157.0M in FY 2025. Per the Roarable RQD rating, ROIC is 13%, the Altman Z-Score is 2.53, and the Piotroski F-Score is 7/9. Debt rose from $9892.1M in FY 2023 to $13360.0M in FY 2025, and per the Roarable RQD rating the Debt/Equity ratio is 0.8. Gross margin is reported as 0% in the market data, which is not meaningfully interpretable and should be treated with caution.
The news feed contains six items, all rated YELLOW and classified as MARKET WIRE. Per the recent news and catalysts section, the items include:
The headlines are generic and their summaries do not provide the content of the earnings call, the dividend amount, or the forecasts. Risk watch items and proprietary signals are not itemized. Per the Butterfly Supply-Chain Graph, no proprietary signals are present.
Per the Butterfly Supply-Chain Graph, the supply chain status is "NONE," with no butterfly links identified. Upstream and downstream dependencies, sector correlations, and 2nd-order bottlenecks are not available in source data. The sector and industry classifications (Industrials / Railroads) are the only structural context provided.
Real-time company headlines, analyst actions, and sector developments for Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) • Click "Debate This Headline" to argue it in the Roar Pit below
Yahoo! Finance Canada report covering Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Seeking Alpha report covering Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
24/7 Wall St. report covering Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
TradingView report covering Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
The Courier Express report covering Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Simply Wall St report covering Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Schneider National (NYSE:SNDR) has entered a new partnership with Norfolk Southern to expand domestic intermodal capacity in the eastern U.S. The collaboration combines Schneider National's asset based logistics network
Welcome to the NSC (Norfolk Southern Corporation) Roar Pit. Current RQD Composite is 73/100 (Roarable Buy — Good Risk/Reward) in Railroads. Bulls point to capital efficiency (13.0% ROIC), while bears focus on macro rate sensitivity and margin execution. Pick your side (🐂 Bull or 🐻 Bear) and drop your price target below.
Everyone in here is repeating the bull case on NSC, but look at what you are paying: 26.8x trailing P/E with tightening sector spreads. Unless Norfolk Southern Corporation expands free cash flow yield next quarter, I would rather wait for a pullback closer to the 200-day moving average before touching this.
Looking at the 5-pillar RQD breakdown on NSC, the market is fixating on short-term headline noise in Railroads and ignoring the balance sheet and cash flow trajectory. At $342.19 (52-wk range $277.80 - $358.60), any beat on forward guidance forces shorts and underweight funds to chase.
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