NSC vs. UNP
NSC (Norfolk Southern Corporation) and UNP (Union Pacific Corporation) are both stocks. Both operate in the Railroads industry within the Industrials sector. Over the past 10 years, NSC returned 16.69%/yr vs 14.69%/yr for UNP. Their 0.63 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently.
Performance
NSC vs. UNP - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NSC achieves a 19.24% return, which is significantly lower than UNP's 29.45% return. Over the past 10 years, NSC has outperformed UNP with an annualized return of 16.69%, while UNP has yielded a comparatively lower 14.69% annualized return.
NSC
- 1D
- 1.37%
- 1M
- 5.75%
- 6M
- 15.40%
- YTD
- 19.24%
- 1Y
- 24.38%
- 3Y*
- 17.26%
- 5Y*
- 8.30%
- 10Y*
- 16.69%
- ALL TIME*
- 12.57%
UNP
- 1D
- 1.76%
- 1M
- 5.00%
- 6M
- 24.00%
- YTD
- 29.45%
- 1Y
- 36.49%
- 3Y*
- 11.52%
- 5Y*
- 8.65%
- 10Y*
- 14.69%
- ALL TIME*
- 12.39%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $474.24M | $375.32M | $375.91M | |
| $1.11B | $921.03M | $831.05M |
NSC vs. UNP - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NSC Norfolk Southern Corporation | 19.24% | 25.65% | 1.55% | -1.63% | -15.59% | 27.26% | 24.76% | 32.39% | 5.22% | 36.85% |
UNP Union Pacific Corporation | 29.45% | 3.86% | -5.10% | 21.61% | -15.93% | 23.31% | 17.64% | 33.70% | 5.26% | 32.30% |
Correlation
The correlation between NSC and UNP is 0.91, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.91 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.79 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.80 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.81 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 2, 1982 | 0.63 |
Over the past year, NSC and UNP have become more correlated (0.91) than their long-term average of 0.63, meaning their price movements have been converging.
Fundamentals
NSC:
$76.65B
UNP:
$176.05B
NSC:
$15.63
UNP:
$8.99
NSC:
21.83
UNP:
32.95
NSC:
3.31
UNP:
6.59
NSC:
4.59
UNP:
9.48
NSC:
$12.54B
UNP:
$18.55B
NSC:
$6.73B
UNP:
$8.44B
NSC:
$5.42B
UNP:
$9.81B
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Return for Risk
NSC vs. UNP — Risk / Return Rank
NSC
UNP
NSC vs. UNP - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) and Union Pacific Corporation (UNP). 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 | UNP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.45 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.57 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 1.31 | -0.07 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.96 | 2.98 | -1.02 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.61 | 8.00 | -2.39 |
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Drawdowns
NSC vs. UNP - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NSC drawdown since its inception was -67.74%, roughly equal to the maximum UNP drawdown of -67.49%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NSC and UNP.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NSC | UNP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -67.74% | -67.49% | -0.25% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.47% | -12.28% | -0.19% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -25.11% | -17.75% | -7.36% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -35.64% | -31.83% | -3.81% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.42% | -38.72% | -5.70% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.68% | -3.57% | +0.89% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -15.10% | -17.03% | +1.93% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.36% | 4.57% | -0.21% |
Volatility
NSC vs. UNP - Volatility Comparison
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) and Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) have volatilities of 7.40% and 7.51%, 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 | UNP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.40% | 7.51% | -0.11% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 16.82% | 17.83% | -1.01% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 20.38% | 22.21% | -1.83% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.96% | 23.00% | +1.96% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 27.51% | 25.35% | +2.16% |
Dividends
NSC vs. UNP - Dividend Comparison
NSC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.19%, less than UNP's 1.86% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NSC Norfolk Southern Corporation | 1.19% | 1.87% | 2.30% | 2.28% | 2.01% | 1.40% | 1.58% | 1.85% | 2.03% | 1.68% | 2.18% | 2.79% |
UNP Union Pacific Corporation | 1.86% | 2.35% | 2.32% | 2.12% | 2.45% | 1.70% | 1.86% | 2.05% | 2.21% | 1.85% | 2.17% | 2.81% |
Financials
NSC vs. UNP - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Norfolk Southern Corporation and Union Pacific Corporation. 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
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.91, NSC and UNP move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
UNP has higher volatility (7.51%) compared to NSC (7.40%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NSC dropped -67.74% vs UNP's -67.49%.
UNP currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.65 vs 1.20), 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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