Norfolk Southern Corporation vs Trade Desk Inc — how do they compare? Norfolk Southern Corporation trades at $333 (market cap $75.23B), while Trade Desk Inc trades at $18.29 (market cap $8.76B). The key difference: Norfolk Southern Corporation is far larger — about 8.6× Trade Desk Inc's market cap, and Norfolk Southern Corporation pays a 1.61% dividend while Trade Desk Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| NSC | TTD | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $75.23B | $8.76B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $340.16 | $89.76 |
52-Week Low | $272.35 | $17.33 |
Enterprise Value | $90.99B | $7.78B |
Dividend Yield | 1.61% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Norfolk Southern (NSC) trades at $334.97, down 1.53% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages. The stock shows strong profitability with a 21.91% net income margin and has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters. Key developments include the pending Q2 2026 earnings report on July 23, 2026, and ongoing regulatory review of the proposed merger with Union Pacific, which dominates recent news coverage.
The investment outlook is cautiously optimistic, supported by earnings momentum and a consensus price target of $344.40 offering modest upside. Risks include potential regulatory hurdles for the merger, declining revenue projections for 2026, and elevated valuation multiples. The stock's current price near resistance levels suggests near-term volatility around earnings could present entry opportunities for long-term investors.
The Trade Desk (TTD) trades at $18.25, down 1.83% with bearish technical signals. Revenue grew to $2.9B in 2025 with strong 77.8% gross margins, though Q1 2026 EPS missed expectations. Recent executive appointments and the Publicis dispute settlement provide operational stability. The stock faces headwinds from slowing growth and competitive pressure from tech giants.
TTD presents a value opportunity at 21x P/E with 49% analyst buy ratings and $25.23 price target upside. Risks include persistent revenue deceleration and market share loss to walled gardens. The company's profitability and strategic partnerships support long-term potential despite near-term challenges.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →The Trade Desk Inc is engaged in providing a technology platform for ad buyers. Through its cloud-based platform ad buyers can create, manage, and optimize data-driven digital advertising campaigns across ad formats and channels, including display, video, audio, in-app, native and social, on a multitude of devices. Its products include Data Management Platform, Cross-Device Targeting, Video Advertising, Mobile Advertising, and others.
Read more on TTD →