NSC vs. HCA
NSC (Norfolk Southern Corporation) and HCA (HCA Healthcare, Inc.) are both stocks. NSC operates in Railroads (Industrials), while HCA operates in Medical Care Facilities (Healthcare). Over the past 10 years, NSC returned 16.29%/yr vs 17.23%/yr for HCA. At a 0.36 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
NSC vs. HCA - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NSC achieves a 8.29% return, which is significantly higher than HCA's -22.49% return. Over the past 10 years, NSC has underperformed HCA with an annualized return of 16.29%, while HCA has yielded a comparatively higher 17.23% annualized return.
NSC
- 1D
- -1.12%
- 1M
- -0.67%
- YTD
- 8.29%
- 6M
- 6.71%
- 1Y
- 25.89%
- 3Y*
- 15.24%
- 5Y*
- 4.69%
- 10Y*
- 16.29%
HCA
- 1D
- -2.90%
- 1M
- -16.97%
- YTD
- -22.49%
- 6M
- -25.30%
- 1Y
- -5.36%
- 3Y*
- 10.82%
- 5Y*
- 12.59%
- 10Y*
- 17.23%
NSC vs. HCA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NSC Norfolk Southern Corporation | 8.29% | 25.65% | 1.55% | -1.63% | -15.59% | 27.26% | 24.76% | 32.39% | 5.22% | 36.85% |
HCA HCA Healthcare, Inc. | -22.49% | 56.71% | 11.75% | 13.83% | -5.64% | 57.58% | 12.07% | 20.24% | 43.37% | 18.67% |
Correlation
The correlation between NSC and HCA is 0.19, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.30 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.38 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.39 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 10, 2011 | 0.36 |
The correlation between NSC and HCA shifts across timeframes, from 0.19 (1 year) to 0.39 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
NSC:
$15.83
HCA:
$28.46
NSC:
19.57
HCA:
12.70
NSC:
2.97
HCA:
1.51
NSC:
4.29
HCA:
1.14
NSC:
$12.19B
HCA:
$75.60B
NSC:
$6.23B
HCA:
$31.37B
NSC:
$5.20B
HCA:
$15.60B
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Return for Risk
NSC vs. HCA — Risk / Return Rank
NSC
HCA
NSC vs. HCA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) and HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| NSC | HCA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.52 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.09 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.26 | 0.99 | +0.27 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.08 | -0.16 | +2.24 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.27 | -0.51 | +6.78 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| NSC | HCA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.32 | -0.20 | +1.52 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.19 | 0.42 | -0.24 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.59 | 0.53 | +0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.42 | 0.60 | -0.18 |
Drawdowns
NSC vs. HCA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NSC drawdown since its inception was -67.74%, which is greater than HCA's maximum drawdown of -54.74%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NSC and HCA.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NSC | HCA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -67.74% | -54.74% | -13.00% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.47% | -33.62% | +21.15% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -25.11% | -33.62% | +8.51% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -35.64% | -39.49% | +3.85% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.42% | -54.74% | +10.32% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.84% | -33.62% | +28.78% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -15.14% | -11.03% | -4.11% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.14% | 10.49% | -6.35% |
Volatility
NSC vs. HCA - Volatility Comparison
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) and HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) have volatilities of 7.84% and 7.50%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| NSC | HCA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.84% | 7.50% | +0.34% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 16.01% | 21.36% | -5.35% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.77% | 27.25% | -7.48% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 25.06% | 29.85% | -4.79% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 27.54% | 32.63% | -5.09% |
Dividends
NSC vs. HCA - Dividend Comparison
NSC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.74%, more than HCA's 0.81% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HCA HCA Healthcare, Inc. | 0.81% | 0.62% | 0.88% | 0.89% | 0.93% | 0.75% | 0.63% | 1.08% | 1.12% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
NSC Norfolk Southern Corporation | 1.74% | 1.87% | 2.30% | 2.28% | 2.01% | 1.40% | 1.58% | 1.85% | 2.03% | 1.68% | 2.18% | 2.79% |
Financials
NSC vs. HCA - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Norfolk Southern Corporation and HCA Healthcare, Inc.. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
NSC vs. HCA - Profitability Comparison
NSC - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Norfolk Southern Corporation reported a gross profit of 2.00B and revenue of 3.00B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 66.8%.
HCA - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, HCA Healthcare, Inc. reported a gross profit of 8.18B and revenue of 19.51B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 41.9%.
NSC - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Norfolk Southern Corporation reported an operating income of 877.00M and revenue of 3.00B, resulting in an operating margin of 29.3%.
HCA - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, HCA Healthcare, Inc. reported an operating income of 3.18B and revenue of 19.51B, resulting in an operating margin of 16.3%.
NSC - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Norfolk Southern Corporation reported a net income of 547.00M and revenue of 3.00B, resulting in a net margin of 18.3%.
HCA - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, HCA Healthcare, Inc. reported a net income of 1.88B and revenue of 19.51B, resulting in a net margin of 9.6%.
Frequently Asked Questions
NSC and HCA have a correlation of 0.19, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NSC has higher volatility (7.84%) compared to HCA (7.50%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NSC dropped -67.74% vs HCA's -54.74%.
NSC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.32 vs -0.20), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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