Applied Digital Corporation vs Norfolk Southern Corporation — how do they compare? Applied Digital Corporation trades at $30.48 (market cap $8.90B), while Norfolk Southern Corporation trades at $332.51 (market cap $73.55B). The key difference: Norfolk Southern Corporation is far larger — about 8.3× Applied Digital Corporation's market cap, and Norfolk Southern Corporation pays a 1.65% dividend while Applied Digital Corporation pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| APLD | NSC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.90B | $73.55B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $49.65 | $327.47 |
52-Week Low | $9.18 | $259.49 |
Enterprise Value | $10.00B | $89.31B |
Dividend Yield | — | 1.65% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Applied Digital (APLD) trades at $31.15, down 3.53% today, amid bearish technical signals despite unanimous analyst buy ratings. The company shows strong revenue growth with $144M in 2025 and $319M projected for 2026, but remains unprofitable with negative margins. Recent news highlights APLD's pivot to AI data centers with $36B in contracted lease value, though execution risks and customer concentration persist.
Outlook: High growth potential from AI infrastructure expansion contrasts with profitability challenges and heavy capital spending. Risks include customer concentration and debt load, but analyst consensus targets $76.67 suggest significant upside if execution improves.
Norfolk Southern (NSC) trades at $327.47, up 1.14% with a bullish technical outlook and strong fundamental performance. The stock shows consistent earnings beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $2.65 exceeding expectations of $2.49. Valuation metrics include a P/E of 27.59 and ROE of 17.6%, while analyst consensus targets $342.67. Recent developments include the pending merger with Union Pacific and upcoming Q2 2026 earnings on July 23, 2026.
NSC presents a favorable investment case with strong profitability and merger potential, though regulatory scrutiny and rich valuations pose risks. The stock's proximity to 52-week highs suggests limited near-term upside, but long-term growth prospects remain solid if merger approvals proceed smoothly and operational efficiency improves.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Applied Digital provides high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure and cloud services. It designs and operates data centers tailored for AI, machine learning, and other intensive digital workloads across North America.
Read more on APLD →Norfolk Southern Corporation is a major North American railroad company operating one of the largest freight rail networks in the eastern United States. The company transports a diverse range of commodities, including coal, intermodal containers, and various industrial products. NSC is a critical link in the nation's supply chain, providing efficient, long-haul transportation services to and from ports and industrial centers.
Read more on NSC →