Norfolk Southern Corp. (NSC) Valuation
Historical valuation analysis based on 1281 data points (2021-09-10 to 2026-10-16)
Class I railroad Norfolk Southern operates in the Eastern United States. On more than 20,000 miles of track, the rail hauls shipments of coal, intermodal traffic, and a diverse mix of automotive, a...
Norfolk Southern Corp. (NSC) currently trades at a P/E ratio of 27.86 (historical range: 14.09–41.29, median: 22.21), placing it at the 86th percentile — expensive relative to its history, P/S ratio of 5.86 (range: 3.42–6.80, 86th percentile — expensive relative to its history), EV/EBITDA of 22.18 (range: 12.58–32.01, 86th percentile).
Over the historical period (2021-09-10 to 2026-10-16), Norfolk Southern Corp.'s P/E ratio has expanded by 21% over the observed period (from an average of 20.5 to 24.9).
Norfolk Southern Corp. trades well above its own historical valuation range across most metrics.
Historical Valuation Metrics
| Metric | Current | Median | %ile | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio | 27.86 | 22.21 | 86th | expensive relative to its history |
| P/S Ratio | 5.86 | 4.78 | 86th | expensive relative to its history |
| EV/EBITDA | 22.18 | 18.27 | 86th | expensive relative to its history |
| FCF Yield | 2.22% | 3.24% | 26th | above its historical average |
Norfolk Southern Corp. (NSC) Valuation & P/E History
Norfolk Southern Corp. (NSC) is a US-listed stock operating in the Industrials sector, specifically the Railroads, Line-Haul Operating industry currently trading at $326.92 with a market capitalization of $73.4 billion. This page provides historical valuation analysis for NSC based on 1281 data points covering 2021-09-10 to 2026-10-16. The P/E ratio of 27.86 is above the historical median of 22.21, placing NSC at the 86th percentile of its valuation range. The P/S ratio of 5.86 compares to a median of 4.78.
NSC Valuation Metrics & Historical Range
The valuation table above shows Norfolk Southern Corp.'s current and historical valuation multiples, including P/E ratio, P/S ratio, EV/EBITDA, FCF yield, and dividend yield. Each metric is compared to its own historical range to determine whether NSC is currently trading above or below its typical valuation levels.
- P/E ratio: Price-to-earnings measures how much investors pay per dollar of earnings. A P/E above the historical median suggests NSC is expensively valued; below the median suggests it is cheap.
- P/S ratio: Price-to-sales is useful for companies with volatile or negative earnings. Lower P/S relative to history may indicate value.
- EV/EBITDA: Enterprise value to EBITDA adjusts for debt and cash, providing a capital-structure-neutral valuation measure for Norfolk Southern Corp..
- FCF yield: Free cash flow yield shows the cash return relative to market price. Higher yields may indicate undervaluation.
Is NSC Overvalued or Undervalued?
Norfolk Southern Corp. trades well above its own historical valuation range across most metrics. The overall valuation percentile of 86 combines P/E, P/S, and EV/EBITDA percentiles into a single measure of how expensive NSC is relative to its own history. A percentile below 25 suggests the stock may be undervalued, while a percentile above 75 suggests it may be overvalued.
However, valuation is only one factor in investment decisions. A stock can remain "overvalued" for years if growth accelerates, or "undervalued" if the business deteriorates. Always combine valuation analysis with financial statement analysis and the full NSC analysis page for a complete picture.
Valuation data is computed from historical price and fundamental data via Polygon.io and Finnhub.NSC trades on NYSE/NASDAQ. This page is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.