Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC)vsVertiv Holdings Co (VRT)
NSC
Norfolk Southern Corporation
$283.25
-0.01%
INDUSTRIALS · Cap: $63.70B
VRT
Vertiv Holdings Co
$251.07
-0.53%
INDUSTRIALS · Cap: $103.64B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Norfolk Southern Corporation generates 19% more annual revenue ($12.18B vs $10.23B). NSC leads profitability with a 23.6% profit margin vs 13.0%. VRT appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.83. VRT earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 67/100 (B-).
NSC
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
VRT
Strong Buy67
out of 100
Grade: B-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-265.7%
Fair Value
$86.77
Current Price
$283.25
$196.48 premium
Margin of Safety
-55.7%
Fair Value
$159.59
Current Price
$251.07
$91.48 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Strong operational efficiency at 31.2%
Large-cap with strong market position
Keeps 24 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Every $100 of equity generates 42 in profit
Large-cap with strong market position
Strong operational efficiency at 21.2%
Revenue surging 22.7% year-over-year
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Revenue declined 1.7%
Earnings declined 11.4%
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Expensive relative to growth rate
2.0% earnings growth
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Trading at 24.4x book value
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : NSC
The strongest argument for NSC centers on Operating Margin, Market Cap, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 23.6% and operating margin at 31.2%.
Bull Case : VRT
The strongest argument for VRT centers on Return on Equity, Market Cap, Operating Margin. Revenue growth of 22.7% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : NSC
The primary concerns for NSC are PEG Ratio, Revenue Growth, EPS Growth.
Bear Case : VRT
The primary concerns for VRT are PEG Ratio, EPS Growth, P/E Ratio. A P/E of 79.4x leaves little room for execution misses.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
NSC profiles as a declining stock while VRT is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
VRT carries more volatility with a beta of 2.08 — expect wider price swings.
VRT is growing revenue faster at 22.7% — sustainability is the question.
VRT generates stronger free cash flow (912M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
VRT scores higher overall (67/100 vs 53/100) and 22.7% revenue growth. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Norfolk Southern Corporation
INDUSTRIALS · RAILROADS · USA
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I freight railroad in the United States, and is the current name of the former Southern Railway. With headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, the company operates 19,420 route miles (31,250 km) in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia, and has rights in Canada over the Albany to Montreal route of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and previously on CN from Buffalo to St. Thomas.
Vertiv Holdings Co
INDUSTRIALS · ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT & PARTS · USA
Vertiv Holdings Co designs, manufactures and services critical digital infrastructure technologies and lifecycle services for data centers, communication networks, and commercial and industrial environments in the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.
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