UNP vs. NSC
UNP (Union Pacific Corporation) and NSC (Norfolk Southern Corporation) are both stocks. Both operate in the Railroads industry within the Industrials sector. Over the past 10 years, UNP returned 14.84%/yr vs 16.79%/yr for NSC. Their 0.63 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently.
Performance
UNP vs. NSC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, UNP achieves a 27.61% return, which is significantly higher than NSC's 17.21% return. Over the past 10 years, UNP has underperformed NSC with an annualized return of 14.84%, while NSC has yielded a comparatively higher 16.79% annualized return.
UNP
- 1D
- 0.92%
- 1M
- 3.50%
- 6M
- 25.56%
- YTD
- 27.61%
- 1Y
- 36.17%
- 3Y*
- 10.51%
- 5Y*
- 8.38%
- 10Y*
- 14.84%
- ALL TIME*
- 12.36%
NSC
- 1D
- 0.46%
- 1M
- 3.96%
- 6M
- 16.20%
- YTD
- 17.21%
- 1Y
- 23.72%
- 3Y*
- 15.25%
- 5Y*
- 7.65%
- 10Y*
- 16.79%
- ALL TIME*
- 12.53%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $484.48M | $381.58M | $373.28M | |
| $1.15B | $928.45M | $827.36M |
UNP vs. NSC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UNP Union Pacific Corporation | 27.61% | 3.86% | -5.10% | 21.61% | -15.93% | 23.31% | 17.64% | 33.70% | 5.26% | 32.30% |
NSC Norfolk Southern Corporation | 17.21% | 25.65% | 1.55% | -1.63% | -15.59% | 27.26% | 24.76% | 32.39% | 5.22% | 36.85% |
Correlation
The correlation between UNP and NSC 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, UNP and NSC have become more correlated (0.91) than their long-term average of 0.63, meaning their price movements have been converging.
Fundamentals
UNP:
$173.55B
NSC:
$75.35B
UNP:
$8.99
NSC:
$15.63
UNP:
32.48
NSC:
21.46
UNP:
6.50
NSC:
3.26
UNP:
9.35
NSC:
4.51
UNP:
$18.55B
NSC:
$12.54B
UNP:
$8.44B
NSC:
$6.73B
UNP:
$9.81B
NSC:
$5.42B
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Return for Risk
UNP vs. NSC — Risk / Return Rank
UNP
NSC
UNP vs. NSC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) and Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC). 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.
| UNP | NSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.44 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.56 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.23 | +0.07 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.83 | 1.85 | +0.98 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.61 | 5.28 | +2.33 |
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Drawdowns
UNP vs. NSC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum UNP drawdown since its inception was -67.49%, roughly equal to the maximum NSC drawdown of -67.74%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for UNP and NSC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| UNP | NSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -67.49% | -67.74% | +0.25% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.28% | -12.47% | +0.19% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -17.75% | -25.11% | +7.36% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.83% | -35.64% | +3.81% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -38.72% | -44.42% | +5.70% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.94% | -4.33% | -0.61% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -17.03% | -15.10% | -1.93% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.56% | 4.35% | +0.21% |
Volatility
UNP vs. NSC - Volatility Comparison
Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) and Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) have volatilities of 7.46% and 7.39%, 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
| UNP | NSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.46% | 7.39% | +0.07% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 17.76% | 16.78% | +0.98% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.24% | 20.36% | +1.88% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.99% | 24.96% | -1.97% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 25.35% | 27.50% | -2.15% |
Dividends
UNP vs. NSC - Dividend Comparison
UNP's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.89%, more than NSC's 1.61% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NSC Norfolk Southern Corporation | 1.21% | 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 | 1.89% | 2.35% | 2.32% | 2.12% | 2.45% | 1.70% | 1.86% | 2.05% | 2.21% | 1.85% | 2.17% | 2.81% |
Financials
UNP vs. NSC - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Union Pacific Corporation and Norfolk Southern 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, UNP and NSC 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 (7.46%) compared to NSC (7.39%). In terms of maximum drawdown, UNP dropped -67.49% vs NSC's -67.74%.
UNP currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.57 vs 1.13), 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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