Head-to-head · Stock vs Stock
CSX vs Norfolk Southern
vs
CSX vs NSC: the verdict
How CSX and NSC compare today, and what CleaRank Financial AI makes of it.
The verdict
CleaRank Financial AI favours
CSX
CSX
NSC
74/100
AI score
66/100
+48.4%
1-year change
+15.0%
34.3%
Volatility (30d, yearly)
27.7%
58.7
RSI (14-day)
50.5
27.0x
P/E ratio
27.7x
1.06%
Dividend yield
1.63%
The verdict
CSX comes out ahead on CleaRank's model, scoring 74/100 (Buy) against 66/100 (Buy) for Norfolk Southern (NSC). The widest gap is the trend: for CSX, the price is 12.38% above its 200-day average and 6.25% above its 50-day average, and the 50-day average is 5.78% above the 200-day.
Key difference
Valuation also favours CSX: the P/E of 27.03 is 20.5% below the sector median (a discount to peers).
Outlook
CSX's uptrend holds while it stays above its 50-day average at $48.85 and its 200-day at $46.18. NSC's uptrend holds while it stays above its 50-day average at $324.05 and its 200-day at $316.91.
Price, side by side
Both prices start at 0% on the first day of the period you pick, so the moves compare directly.
Rebased price
0%+2%+4%+6%+8%+10%+8.7%+3.5%
Nov '26
-5%0%+5%+3.6%-1.4%
Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+17%+6.4%
Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
0%+20%+40%+48%+15%
Dec '25Feb '26Apr '26Jul '26Sep '26Nov '26
-20%0%+20%+40%+49%+27%
Oct '24Mar '25Aug '25Jan '26Jun '26Nov '26
Over 1 year: CSX gained 48.4% and NSC gained 15.0%, a gap of 33.4 points in CSX's favour.
Valuation and profitability
What each costs relative to its earnings and sales, and how much of its revenue it keeps.
Side by side
Valuation
Lower multiples mean you pay less for each dollar of earnings or sales.
CSX
NSC
$95.7B
Market cap
$74.3B
27.0x
P/E ratio
27.7x
6.4x
Price / sales
5.7x
6.7x
Price / book
4.4x
15.9x
EV / EBITDA
15.3x
Profitability
How much of each dollar of revenue becomes profit, and how hard the capital works.
CSX
NSC
+10.1%
Revenue growth (quarter, y/y)
+11.4%
24.0%
Net margin
20.7%
26.4%
Return on equity
16.8%
7.8%
Return on assets
6.0%
1.35
Debt / equity
1.02
On valuation
NSC trades on the higher trailing P/E, 27.71 against 27.03 for CSX. Against an Industrials median of 34.0, CSX's P/E is at a discount to peers and NSC's is broadly in line with peers. On sales, CSX is valued higher, at 6.40 times against 5.73. CSX is the larger company, worth $95.7B against $74.3B.
On profitability
CSX turns more of its sales into profit: its net margin is 23.97%, compared with 20.71% at NSC. Its return on equity is also the higher of the two, at 26.39% against 16.84%. Year on year, in the latest quarter, revenue rose 10.10% at CSX and 11.41% at NSC. For income, CSX pays a trailing dividend yield of 1.06%, while NSC's is 1.63%.
Earnings reality check
CSX
CSX beat the estimate in 5 of its last 8 reports (latest Oct '26); the shares fell in the first session after 0 of those beats.
Surprise
Next session
Apr '25Oct '25Apr '26Oct '26
NSC
NSC beat the estimate in 5 of its last 6 reports (latest Oct '26); the shares fell in the first session after 2 of those beats.
Surprise
Next session
Jul '25Jan '26Oct '26
Momentum and sentiment
The indicators behind each AI score, side by side.
Indicators side by side
CSX
NSC
74/100
AI score
66/100
58.7
RSI (14-day)
50.5
+6.2%
Price against 50-day average
+2.0%
+12.4%
Price against 200-day average
+4.3%
Technicals
CSX is in an uptrend, trading 6.25% above its 50-day average and 12.38% above its 200-day average. Its 14-day RSI is 58.7, in the neutral zone, with the MACD line positive. NSC is in an uptrend, trading 2.02% above its 50-day average and 4.32% above its 200-day average. Its 14-day RSI is 50.5, in the neutral zone, with the MACD line positive. CSX sits higher in its 52-week range, at 91% against 65% for NSC.
Sentiment
Of the 25 analysts covering CSX, 17 rate it buy, 6 hold and 2 sell; their median target is $54.57, 5.1% above the price. Of the 21 analysts covering NSC, 5 rate it buy, 16 hold and 0 sell; their median target is $352.50, 6.6% above the price.
Risk and practical tips
How much each moves, how much return each has paid for that risk, and what to watch if you hold either.
Risk measures
CSX
NSC
34.3%
Volatility (30d, yearly)
27.7%
1.11
Beta against the S&P 500
1.18
0.69
Sharpe ratio
0.40
Risk
CSX typically moves more in a day, 1.87% against 1.52% for NSC. Against the S&P 500, CSX has a beta of 1.11 and NSC 1.18. Their worst falls in the price history were 39.8% for CSX (February 2020 to March 2020) and 43.4% for NSC. CSX typically moves more in a day; on the other measures we track the two are close.
ProTips
- For CSX, watch the 52-week high at $53.60 above the price and the 20-day EMA at $50.48 below it.
- For NSC, watch the 52-week high at $358.60 above the price and the 50-day SMA at $324.05 below it.
CSX vs NSC: long-term scenarios
Simulated paths from each price history. A range of outcomes, not a forecast.
Simulated growth of $10,000
$20K$40K$60K$65.6K$59.8K$22.6K$20.8K
202620282030203220342035
CSX
NSC
$7,826
Downside, 2035 (10th)
$7,248
$22,650
Base case, 2035 (median)
$20,818
$65,550
Upside, 2035 (90th)
$59,789
In the median simulated path, $10,000 in CSX grows to about $22,600 and $10,000 in NSC grows to about $20,800 by 2035. The paths come from each asset's own volatility and capped historical trend; they are statistical outcomes, not forecasts. CSX and NSC's upside columns reach an extreme multiple of the starting amount; treat them as a statistical tail, not a likely outcome.
CSX vs NSC: questions people ask
Answered from the figures on this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, CSX or NSC?+
On CleaRank's model CSX scores higher, 74/100 (Buy) against 66/100 (Buy) for NSC. This describes the data on this page and is not a personal recommendation.
Which has performed better over the past year, CSX or NSC?+
Over the past year CSX has done better. Its price rose 48.37%, while NSC's rose 14.96%.
Which is cheaper on earnings, CSX or NSC?+
CSX has the lower trailing P/E, at 27.03 versus 27.71 for NSC.
Which pays more income, CSX or NSC?+
NSC offers the higher yield, 1.63% against 1.06% for CSX. Yield is the payout divided by the price, so it moves whenever either of those changes.
Which is riskier, CSX or NSC?+
CSX typically moves more in a day; on the other measures we track the two are close. Average daily move: 1.87% for CSX, 1.52% for NSC. Beta against the S&P 500: 1.11 for CSX, 1.18 for NSC. Worst fall in the price history: 39.8% for CSX, 43.4% for NSC.
Which has stronger momentum right now, CSX or NSC?+
CSX has the higher 14-day RSI, 58.7 (neutral) against 50.5 (neutral) for NSC. Both MACD lines are positive. Readings above 70 or below 30 mark stretched momentum.
Which is the bigger company, CSX or NSC?+
CSX is the larger company by market value, at $95.7B against $74.3B for NSC.
What do analysts say about CSX and NSC?+
CSX has 17 buy ratings out of 25 analysts, and its median target sits 5.1% above the price. NSC has 5 buy ratings out of 21, with a median target 6.6% above its price.
How would $10,000 have grown in CSX or NSC?+
Invested in December 2016, $10,000 would be worth $49,343 today in CSX and $37,734 in NSC.