Norfolk Southern Corporation vs NetApp Inc. — how do they compare? Norfolk Southern Corporation trades at $323.3 (market cap $73.65B), while NetApp Inc. trades at $184.74 (market cap $37.15B). The key difference: Norfolk Southern Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and Norfolk Southern Corporation pays the higher dividend (1.65%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| NSC | NTAP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $73.65B | $37.15B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $352.98 | $207.08 |
52-Week Low | $272.36 | $94.11 |
Enterprise Value | $89.20B | $36.11B |
Dividend Yield | 1.65% | 1.1% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Norfolk Southern (NSC) trades at $327.92, down 0.47% on the day, amid a bearish technical signal. The stock has consistently beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, with Q3 2026 results pending. Key fundamentals show strong profitability with a 21.02% net income margin and 16.97% ROE, though valuation multiples like the P/E of 27.98 appear elevated. Recent news highlights ongoing institutional accumulation and progress in the proposed merger with Union Pacific, which remains under regulatory review.
The outlook is balanced; the merger potential offers upside, but regulatory hurdles and a premium valuation pose risks. Analyst consensus is mixed with a Hold rating predominating, though the $369.67 price target implies modest upside. Earnings sustainability and merger approval are critical for near-term direction.
NetApp (NTAP) trades at $189.13, up 1.91% with strong technical momentum and bullish moving average signals. The company delivered three consecutive earnings beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $2.58 beating expectations by 21.7%. Revenue growth accelerated to 30% year-over-year in the latest quarter, driven by AI storage demand and cloud momentum. Analyst consensus remains positive with a $193.55 price target, though valuation metrics appear elevated with a P/E of 26.71 and P/S of 5.12.
The outlook remains constructive given strong AI-driven demand and raised 2027 guidance, but premium valuation and margin pressures present risks. Institutional sentiment is mixed with 36.6% buy ratings versus 52.1% hold ratings. Key catalysts include continued AI infrastructure adoption, while risks include execution challenges and competitive pressures in the storage market.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →NetApp is a leading provider of enterprise data management and storage solutions. The company's three operating business units are products, software maintenance, and hardware maintenance. NetApp transitioned from a data center storage firm to a company with software data management solutions for multicloud environments. The California-headquartered company sells globally and has approximately 10,000 employees.
Read more on NTAP →