Norfolk Southern (NSC) vs Trinity Industries (TRN)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Norfolk Southern (NSC) has outperformed Trinity Industries (TRN) over the past year, gaining 5.9% versus a loss of 7.9%. Over five years, NSC leads with a +13.7% price change compared with -13.3% for TRN. Norfolk Southern is the larger company by market cap ($70.54 billion vs $2.01 billion), about 35.0 times the size.
On valuation, Trinity Industries trades at a lower forward P/E (11.4x vs 22.0x for Norfolk Southern). Trinity Industries offers the higher dividend yield (4.86% vs 1.72%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | NSC | TRN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $314.08 | $25.29 |
| Market cap | $70.54B | $2.01B |
| 1-day change | +0.28% | -0.32% |
| YTD return | +8.48% | -4.05% |
| 1-year return | +5.86% | -7.95% |
| 5-year return | +13.65% | -13.32% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 26.80 | 5.94 |
| Forward P/E | 21.98 | 11.37 |
| EPS (TTM) | $11.72 | $4.26 |
| Dividend yield | 1.72% | 4.86% |
| Annual dividend | $5.40 | $1.23 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $12.18B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +0.47% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $2.87B | — |
| Operating margin | 35.76% | — |
| Net margin | 23.59% | — |
| 52-week high | $358.60 | $38.31 |
| 52-week low | $277.80 | $24.76 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -12.42% | -33.99% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +14.34% | +30.49% |
| Average volume | 1.12M | 700.78K |
| Shares outstanding | 224.61M | 79.67M |
| Employees | 19,300 | 6,110 |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Railroads | Railroads |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Norfolk Southern is about 35.0 times larger than Trinity Industries by market value ($70.54B vs $2.01B).
- NSC has outperformed TRN by 13.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Norfolk Southern trades at a higher earnings multiple (26.8x vs 5.9x trailing P/E).
- Trinity Industries offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.86% vs 1.72%).
About Norfolk Southern
NSC stock →Norfolk Southern Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail transportation of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished goods in the United States. The company transports agriculture, forest, and consumer products comprising soybeans, wheat, corn, fertilizers, livestock and poultry feed, food products, food oils, flour, sweeteners, ethanol, lumber and wood products, pulp board and paper products, wood fibers, wood pulp, beverages, and canned goods; chemicals, including sulfur and related chemicals, petroleum products comprising crude oil, chlorine and bleaching compounds, plastics, rubber, industrial chemicals, chemical wastes, sand, and natural gas liquids; metals and construction materials, such as steel, aluminum products, machinery, scrap metals, cement, aggregates, minerals, clay, transportation equipment, and military-related products; and automotive, including finished motor vehicles and automotive parts, as well as coal.
Industrials · Railroads · 19,300 employees
About Trinity Industries
TRN stock →Trinity Industries, Inc. provides railcar products and services under the TrinityRail trade name in North America.
Industrials · Railroads · 6,110 employees
NSC vs TRN FAQ
Which is bigger, Norfolk Southern or Trinity Industries?
Norfolk Southern (NSC) is larger, with a market capitalization of $70.54B compared with $2.01B for Trinity Industries (TRN).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, NSC or TRN?
NSC returned +5.86% over the past 12 months, compared with -7.95% for TRN (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, NSC or TRN?
TRN has the lower trailing P/E at 5.9, versus 26.8 for NSC. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Norfolk Southern or Trinity Industries?
Trinity Industries has the higher yield at 4.86%, compared with 1.72% for Norfolk Southern.
Are Norfolk Southern and Trinity Industries in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Railroads industry within the Industrials sector.