Norfolk Southern (NSC) Set to Release Quarterly Earnings on Thursday

Key Points

• Norfolk Southern is expected to report Q3 2026 results before market open on October 22. Analysts forecast earnings of $3.48 per share on revenue of $3.47 billion, with an earnings call scheduled for 10:00 a.m. ET.
• The railroad operator exceeded expectations in its latest quarter, reporting $3.52 EPS versus the $3.32 consensus and $3.46 billion in revenue, up 12.5% year over year.
• Analysts maintain a consensus “Hold” rating, with an average price target of $346.94. Norfolk Southern recently paid a $1.35 quarterly dividend, equivalent to a 1.7% yield and a $5.40 annualized payout.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) is expected to be announcing its Q3 2026 results before the market opens on Thursday, October 22nd. Analysts expect the company to post earnings of $3.48 per share and revenue of $3.47 billion for the quarter. Investors may visit the company's upcoming Q3 2026 earnings summary page for the latest details on the call scheduled for Thursday, October 22, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.52 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $3.32 by $0.20. Norfolk Southern had a return on equity of 18.21% and a net margin of 21.02%. The business had revenue of $3.46 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.38 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $3.29 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 12.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect Norfolk Southern to post $12.85 EPS for the current fiscal year and $13.87 EPS for the next fiscal year.

Norfolk Southern Price Performance

Shares of NSC opened at $323.69 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98. Norfolk Southern has a 1 year low of $277.80 and a 1 year high of $358.60. The stock has a market cap of $72.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.77 and a beta of 1.29. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $327.65 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $318.83.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 7th were paid a $1.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 7th. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.7%. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio is 46.08%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Citigroup reiterated a "cautious" rating on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research report on Wednesday, October 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $338.00 to $318.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 5th. Susquehanna lowered their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $386.00 to $350.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $365.00 to $385.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Norfolk Southern from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "buy (b)" rating in a report on Friday, October 9th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and fourteen have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Norfolk Southern presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $346.94.

About Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern Corporation NYSE: NSC is a transportation company that operates one of the largest rail networks in the eastern United States. Through its principal subsidiary, Norfolk Southern Railway, the company provides freight rail transportation and related services for industrial, agricultural and consumer markets.

Norfolk Southern's network serves 22 states and the District of Columbia, connecting major ports, manufacturing centers and distribution hubs across the East Coast and the Midwest.

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