NSC vs. HLT
NSC (Norfolk Southern Corporation) and HLT (Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.) are both stocks. NSC operates in Railroads (Industrials), while HLT operates in Lodging (Consumer Cyclical). Over the past 10 years, NSC returned 16.62%/yr vs 48.93%/yr for HLT. At a 0.43 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
NSC vs. HLT - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NSC achieves a 9.68% return, which is significantly lower than HLT's 20.55% return. Over the past 10 years, NSC has underperformed HLT with an annualized return of 16.62%, while HLT has yielded a comparatively higher 48.93% annualized return.
NSC
- 1D
- 1.09%
- 1M
- 1.07%
- YTD
- 9.68%
- 6M
- 6.63%
- 1Y
- 27.15%
- 3Y*
- 15.37%
- 5Y*
- 5.14%
- 10Y*
- 16.62%
HLT
- 1D
- 1.20%
- 1M
- 11.14%
- YTD
- 20.55%
- 6M
- 23.56%
- 1Y
- 38.36%
- 3Y*
- 34.51%
- 5Y*
- 22.21%
- 10Y*
- 48.93%
NSC vs. HLT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NSC Norfolk Southern Corporation | 9.68% | 25.65% | 1.55% | -1.63% | -15.59% | 27.26% | 24.76% | 32.39% | 5.22% | 36.85% |
HLT Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. | 20.55% | 16.49% | 36.11% | 44.68% | -18.72% | 40.20% | 0.47% | 55.48% | -9.40% | 829.98% |
Correlation
The correlation between NSC and HLT is 0.42, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.42 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.39 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.41 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.43 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 12, 2013 | 0.43 |
Fundamentals
NSC:
$15.83
HLT:
$6.50
NSC:
19.83
HLT:
53.23
NSC:
3.01
HLT:
0.86
NSC:
4.34
HLT:
6.68
NSC:
$12.19B
HLT:
$12.28B
NSC:
$6.23B
HLT:
$5.44B
NSC:
$5.20B
HLT:
$3.00B
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
NSC vs. HLT — Risk / Return Rank
NSC
HLT
NSC vs. HLT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) and Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| NSC | HLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.29 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.35 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.27 | 1.29 | -0.02 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.19 | 3.75 | -1.56 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.52 | 8.72 | -2.20 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
NSC vs. HLT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NSC drawdown since its inception was -67.74%, which is greater than HLT's maximum drawdown of -50.82%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NSC and HLT.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| NSC | HLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -67.74% | -50.82% | -16.92% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.47% | -10.29% | -2.18% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -25.11% | -26.35% | +1.24% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -35.64% | -32.65% | -2.99% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.42% | -50.82% | +6.40% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.61% | 0.00% | -3.61% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -15.13% | -9.71% | -5.42% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.17% | 4.42% | -0.25% |
Volatility
NSC vs. HLT - Volatility Comparison
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) has a higher volatility of 8.02% compared to Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT) at 6.84%. This indicates that NSC's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than HLT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| NSC | HLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.02% | 6.84% | +1.18% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 15.97% | 17.39% | -1.42% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.77% | 23.16% | -3.39% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 25.05% | 27.06% | -2.01% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 27.53% | 180.96% | -153.43% |
Dividends
NSC vs. HLT - Dividend Comparison
NSC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.72%, more than HLT's 0.17% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HLT Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. | 0.17% | 0.21% | 0.24% | 0.33% | 0.36% | 0.00% | 0.13% | 0.54% | 0.84% | 31.40% | 1.03% | 0.65% |
NSC Norfolk Southern Corporation | 1.72% | 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. HLT - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Norfolk Southern Corporation and Hilton Worldwide Holdings 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. HLT - 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%.
HLT - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. reported a gross profit of 1.18B and revenue of 2.94B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 40.3%.
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%.
HLT - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. reported an operating income of 678.00M and revenue of 2.94B, resulting in an operating margin of 23.1%.
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%.
HLT - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. reported a net income of 385.00M and revenue of 2.94B, resulting in a net margin of 13.1%.
Frequently Asked Questions
NSC and HLT have a correlation of 0.42, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NSC has higher volatility (8.02%) compared to HLT (6.84%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NSC dropped -67.74% vs HLT's -50.82%.
HLT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.67 vs 1.38), 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.
Find the right allocation for NSC and HLT
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer