Norfolk Southern (NSC) Stock Forecast & Price Target

$334.86 +0.50 (+0.15%)

Closing price 08/7/2026 03:59 PM Eastern

Extended Trading

$334.42 -0.44 (-0.13%)

As of 08/7/2026 07:59 PM Eastern

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Norfolk Southern - Analysts' Recommendations and Stock Price Forecast (2026)

Consensus Rating

Hold

Based on 22 Analyst Ratings

Sell
0

Hold
15

Buy
7

Based on 22 Wall Street analysts who have issued ratings for Norfolk Southern in the last 12 months, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold." Out of the 22 analysts, 15 have given a hold rating, and 7 have given a buy rating for NSC.

Consensus Price Target

$348.00
3.92% Upside

According to the 22 analysts' twelve-month price targets for Norfolk Southern, the average price target is $348.00. The highest price target for NSC is $400.00, while the lowest price target for NSC is $278.00. The average price target represents a forecasted upside of 3.92% from the current price of $334.86.

MarketBeat calculates consensus analyst ratings for stocks using the most recent rating from each Wall Street analyst that has rated a stock within the last twelve months. Each analyst's rating is normalized to a standardized rating score of 1 (sell), 2 (hold), 3 (buy) or 4 (strong buy). Analyst consensus ratings scores are calculated using the mean average of the number of normalized sell, hold, buy and strong buy ratings from Wall Street analysts. Each stock's consensus analyst rating is derived from its calculated consensus ratings score (0 to .5 = Strong Sell, .5 to 1 = Sell, 1 to 1.5 = Reduce, 1.5 to 2.5 = Hold, 2.5 to 3.0 = Moderate Buy, 3.0 to 3.5 = Buy, >3.5 = Strong Buy). MarketBeat's consensus price targets are a mean average of the most recent available price targets set by each analyst that has set a price target for the stock in the last twelve months. MarketBeat's consensus ratings and consensus price targets may differ from those calculated by other firms due to differences in methodology and available data.

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NSC Analyst Ratings Over Time

Type	Current Forecast 8/10/25 to 8/10/26	1 Month Ago 7/11/25 to 7/11/26	3 Months Ago 5/12/25 to 5/12/26	1 Year Ago 8/10/24 to 8/10/25
Strong Buy	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)
Buy	7 Buy rating(s)	7 Buy rating(s)	6 Buy rating(s)	7 Buy rating(s)
Hold	15 Hold rating(s)	17 Hold rating(s)	17 Hold rating(s)	13 Hold rating(s)
Sell	0 Sell rating(s)	0 Sell rating(s)	0 Sell rating(s)	0 Sell rating(s)
Consensus Price Target	$348.00	$326.72	$319.83	$285.15
Forecasted Upside	3.92% Upside	-0.27% Downside	2.29% Upside	1.91% Upside
Consensus Rating	Hold	Hold	Hold	Hold

NSC Analyst Recommendations By Month

The chart below shows how a company's ratings by analysts have changed over time. Each bar represents the previous year of ratings for that month. Within each bar, the sell ratings are shown in red, the hold ratings are shown in yellow, the buy ratings are shown in green, and the strong buy ratings are shown in dark green.

NSC Price Targets by Month

The chart below shows how a company's share price and consensus price target have changed over time. The dark blue line represents the company's actual price. The lighter blue line represents the stock's consensus price target. The even lighter blue range in the background of the two lines represents the low price target and the high price target for each stock.

Norfolk Southern Stock vs. The Competition

Type	Norfolk Southern	Industrials Companies	Broader Market
Consensus Rating Score	2.32	2.29	2.53
Consensus Rating	Hold	Hold	Moderate Buy
Predicted Upside	3.92% Upside	310.99% Upside	11.64% Upside
News Sentiment Rating	Very Positive News See Recent NSC News	Positive News	Positive News

Recent Analyst Forecasts and Stock Ratings

Rating

Upside/Downside

Action

Time Frame

Start Date

End Date

Show

Export

Date	Brokerage	Analyst	Action	Rating	Price Target	Report Date Upside/Downside
7/27/2026	BMO Capital Markets 3 of 5 stars	Fadi Chamoun 2 of 5 stars	Boost Target	Market Perform	$310.00 ➝ $355.00	+0.94%
7/27/2026	Robert W. Baird 3 of 5 stars	Daniel Moore 5 of 5 stars	Boost Target	Neutral	$360.00 ➝ $377.00	+7.20%
7/24/2026	Weiss Ratings 5 of 5 stars		Upgrade	Hold (C+) ➝ Buy (B-)
7/24/2026	Benchmark Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Reiterated Rating	Hold
7/24/2026	Royal Bank Of Canada Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Walter Spracklin Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Boost Target	Sector Perform	$320.00 ➝ $360.00	+2.48%
7/24/2026	UBS Group Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Reiterated Rating	Neutral	$363.00	+4.24%
7/24/2026	TD Cowen Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Jason Seidl Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Boost Target	Buy	$337.00 ➝ $376.00	+8.14%
7/24/2026	Barclays Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Brandon Oglenski Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Boost Target	Overweight	$360.00 ➝ $400.00	+15.04%
7/24/2026	Citigroup Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Ariel Rosa Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Boost Target	Neutral	$351.00 ➝ $376.00	+6.56%
7/24/2026	JPMorgan Chase & Co. Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Brian Ossenbeck Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Boost Target	Neutral	$316.00 ➝ $338.00	-3.78%
Get the Latest News and Ratings for NSC and Related Stocks Enter your email address below to receive the latest news and analysts' ratings for Norfolk Southern and its competitors with MarketBeat's FREE daily newsletter.
7/24/2026	Wells Fargo & Company Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Christian Wetherbee Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Boost Target	Overweight	$365.00 ➝ $385.00	+9.24%
7/23/2026	Evercore Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Set Target		$358.00	+2.96%
7/14/2026	Susquehanna Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Bascome Majors Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Boost Target	Neutral	$337.00 ➝ $360.00	+9.81%
7/8/2026	Stephens Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Upgrade	Hold
4/29/2026	Rothschild & Co Redburn Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Boost Target	Neutral	$308.00 ➝ $315.00	+0.70%
4/7/2026	Wolfe Research Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Boost Target	Outperform	$350.00 ➝ $355.00	+23.55%
4/6/2026	Jefferies Financial Group Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Lower Target	Hold	$350.00 ➝ $310.00	+7.89%
3/31/2026	Sanford C. Bernstein Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	David Vernon Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Lower Target	Outperform	$322.00 ➝ $313.00	+10.35%
3/4/2026	Zacks Research Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Upgrade	Strong Sell ➝ Hold
2/25/2026	Argus Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Upgrade	Hold
12/18/2025	Morgan Stanley Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Upgrade	Equal Weight ➝ Buy
12/11/2025	Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Richa Harnain Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Downgrade	Buy ➝ Hold	$354.00 ➝ $297.00	+0.88%
9/16/2025	Loop Capital Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating		Boost Target	Hold	$235.00 ➝ $278.00	-0.59%
7/17/2025	Bank of America Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Ken Hoexter Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Boost Target	Buy	$290.00 ➝ $305.00	+17.18%
6/2/2025	The Goldman Sachs Group Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Jordan Alliger Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Reiterated Rating	Buy ➝ Neutral	$278.00	+12.50%
4/14/2025	Stifel Nicolaus Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating	Benjamin Nolan Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy rating	Lower Target	Hold	$265.00 ➝ $247.00	+11.74%

Analyst ratings data on MarketBeat is provided by Benzinga and other data providers. This page was last refreshed on Monday at 02:28 AM ET.

Should I Buy Norfolk Southern Stock? NSC Pros and Cons Explained

These pros and cons were generated based on recent news and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate insights. They were last updated on Friday, August 7, 2026. Please send any questions or comments about these Norfolk Southern pros and cons to contact@marketbeat.com.

Norfolk Southern
Bull Case

Here are some ways that investors could benefit from investing in Norfolk Southern Co.:

The current stock price is around $318, reflecting a strong market position and investor interest.
Norfolk Southern Co. has demonstrated robust financial performance, with a recent quarterly revenue increase of 12.5% compared to the same period last year, indicating strong demand for its services.
The company has a solid dividend yield of 1.6%, providing a steady income stream for investors, which is appealing in a low-interest-rate environment.
With a payout ratio of 46.08%, Norfolk Southern Co. maintains a balance between returning profits to shareholders and reinvesting in growth, which can enhance long-term value.
The firm has a strong return on equity of 18.21%, showcasing effective management and profitability, which can attract growth-focused investors.

Norfolk Southern
Bear Case

Investors should be bearish about investing in Norfolk Southern Co. for these reasons:

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, which indicates a relatively high level of debt compared to equity, potentially increasing financial risk during economic downturns.
With a current ratio of 0.83, Norfolk Southern Co. may face liquidity challenges, as this suggests that current liabilities exceed current assets, which could impact short-term financial stability.
The stock has a beta of 1.27, indicating higher volatility compared to the market, which may deter risk-averse investors.
Despite recent revenue growth, the overall economic environment can impact freight demand, making the company vulnerable to economic fluctuations.
The P/E ratio of 28.94 suggests that the stock may be overvalued compared to its earnings, which could lead to price corrections if earnings do not meet investor expectations.

NSC Forecast - Frequently Asked Questions

According to the research reports of 22 Wall Street equities research analysts, the average twelve-month stock price forecast for Norfolk Southern is $348.00, with a high forecast of $400.00 and a low forecast of $278.00.

22 Wall Street analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Norfolk Southern in the last twelve months. There are currently 15 hold ratings and 7 buy ratings for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street analysts is that investors should "hold" NSC shares. A hold rating indicates that analysts believe investors should maintain any existing positions they have in NSC, but not buy additional shares or sell existing shares.

According to analysts, Norfolk Southern's stock has a predicted upside of 3.92% based on their 12-month stock forecasts.

Over the previous 90 days, Norfolk Southern's stock had 2 upgrades by analysts.

Norfolk Southern has been rated by research analysts at Barclays, Benchmark, BMO Capital Markets, Citigroup, Evercore, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Robert W. Baird, Royal Bank Of Canada, Stephens, Susquehanna, TD Cowen, UBS Group, Weiss Ratings, and Wells Fargo & Company in the past 90 days.

Analysts like Norfolk Southern more than other "industrials" companies. The consensus rating score for Norfolk Southern is 2.32 while the average consensus rating score for "industrials" companies is 2.29. Learn more on how NSC compares to other companies.

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This page (NYSE:NSC) was last updated on 8/10/2026 by MarketBeat.com Staff.

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Norfolk Southern (NSC) Stock Forecast & Price Target

Norfolk Southern - Analysts' Recommendations and Stock Price Forecast (2026)

Consensus Rating

Consensus Price Target

NSC Analyst Ratings Over Time

NSC Analyst Recommendations By Month

NSC Price Targets by Month

Norfolk Southern Stock vs. The Competition

Recent Analyst Forecasts and Stock Ratings

Should I Buy Norfolk Southern Stock? NSC Pros and Cons Explained

Norfolk Southern
Bull Case

Norfolk Southern
Bear Case

NSC Forecast - Frequently Asked Questions

Stock Forecasts and Research Tools

Today's Analyst Ratings

Top-Rated Stocks

More Ratings Tools

Brokerages With Norfolk Southern Recommendations

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Stock Ideas and Recommendations

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Norfolk Southern (NSC) Stock Forecast & Price Target

Norfolk Southern - Analysts' Recommendations and Stock Price Forecast (2026)

Consensus Rating

Consensus Price Target

NSC Analyst Ratings Over Time

NSC Analyst Recommendations By Month

NSC Price Targets by Month

Norfolk Southern Stock vs. The Competition

Recent Analyst Forecasts and Stock Ratings

Should I Buy Norfolk Southern Stock? NSC Pros and Cons Explained

Norfolk Southern Bull Case

Norfolk Southern Bear Case

NSC Forecast - Frequently Asked Questions

What is Norfolk Southern's forecast for 2026?

Should I buy or sell Norfolk Southern stock right now?

Does Norfolk Southern's stock price have much upside?

Has Norfolk Southern been upgraded by Wall Street analysts recently?

What analysts cover Norfolk Southern?

Do Wall Street analysts like Norfolk Southern more than its competitors?

Stock Forecasts and Research Tools

Today's Analyst Ratings

Top-Rated Stocks

More Ratings Tools

Brokerages With Norfolk Southern Recommendations

MarketBeat All Access Features

Best-in-Class Portfolio Monitoring

Stock Ideas and Recommendations

Advanced Stock Screeners and Research Tools

Norfolk Southern
Bull Case

Norfolk Southern
Bear Case