Compare Southwest Airlines Co (LUV) vs Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Southwest Airlines Co vs Norfolk Southern Corporation — how do they compare? Southwest Airlines Co trades at $48.78 (market cap $23.63B), while Norfolk Southern Corporation trades at $334.53 (market cap $75.23B). The key difference: Norfolk Southern Corporation is far larger — about 3.2× Southwest Airlines Co's market cap, and Norfolk Southern Corporation pays the higher dividend (1.61%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LUV | NSC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $23.63B | $75.23B |
Sector | Industrials | Technology |
52-Week High | $54.80 | $340.16 |
52-Week Low | $29.06 | $272.35 |
Enterprise Value | $26.70B | $90.99B |
Dividend Yield | 1.49% | 1.61% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Southwest Airlines (LUV) trades at $48.28, up 0.42% today, with a neutral technical signal and mixed earnings history. Recent Q1 2026 EPS missed expectations, but Q4 2025 and Q3 2025 beat. Financials show modest revenue growth to $28.06B in 2025, but net income margin is thin at 2.83%. Analyst consensus is mixed with 42% buy, 47% hold, and 11% sell ratings, and a $52.47 price target implies potential upside. Key news highlights Q2 2026 earnings due July 23, 2026, amid fuel cost volatility and travel demand resilience.
LUV presents a cautious opportunity with upside to the consensus target, supported by operational improvements and sector tailwinds, but risks from fuel price swings, execution challenges, and thin margins warrant careful monitoring. The stock's valuation at a P/E of 32.05 appears elevated relative to earnings growth, requiring strong future performance to justify current levels.
Norfolk Southern (NSC) trades at $334.97, down 1.53% today, with a bullish technical outlook from moving averages but overbought RSI signals. The company shows strong profitability with a 21.91% net income margin and has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent news highlights the pending merger with Union Pacific and upcoming Q2 2026 earnings on July 23, 2026.
The stock offers a moderate upside to the $344.40 consensus price target, supported by earnings momentum and cost controls, but faces risks from regulatory scrutiny of the merger and rich valuations. Investor sentiment is mixed amid merger uncertainties and high expectations.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
About Southwest Airlines Co
Southwest Airlines is the largest domestic carrier in the United States, as measured by the number of originating passengers boarded. Southwest operates over 700 aircraft in an all-Boeing 737 fleet. Despite expanding into longer routes and business travel, the airline still specializes in short-haul leisure flights, using a point-to-point network. Southwest operates a low-cost carrier business model.
Read more on LUV →About Norfolk Southern Corporation
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 →
