Compare Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) vs Ulta Beauty Inc (ULTA) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Norfolk Southern Corporation vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? Norfolk Southern Corporation trades at $335.11 (market cap $75.15B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $535.23 (market cap $23.27B). The key difference: Norfolk Southern Corporation is far larger — about 3.2× Ulta Beauty Inc's market cap, and Norfolk Southern Corporation pays a 1.61% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| NSC | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $75.15B | $23.27B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $350.66 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $272.35 | $450.75 |
Enterprise Value | $90.70B | $25.35B |
Dividend Yield | 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
Norfolk Southern (NSC) trades at $332.82, down 0.34% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings of $3.52 per share, beating estimates, driven by record revenue and volume growth. Valuation ratios like P/E of 28.55 and P/S of 5.99 indicate a premium, while profitability remains solid with a net income margin of 21.02% and ROE of 16.97%. Recent news highlights merger developments with Union Pacific and institutional interest.
Outlook is cautiously optimistic due to earnings momentum and industry tailwinds, but risks include high fuel costs, merger execution uncertainties, and premium valuation. Analysts give a mixed consensus with 43.75% buy ratings and a $369.67 price target, suggesting modest upside potential from current levels amid competitive and operational headwinds.
Ulta Beauty (ULTA) trades at $537.69, down 2.0% today, with a bullish technical outlook from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $618.29. Recent earnings show mixed quarterly beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $7.74 exceeding expectations, while revenue growth remains steady at $11.3B for 2025. The company maintains strong profitability with a net margin of 9.36% and ROE of 47.45%, supported by an omnichannel strategy highlighted in recent news.
The stock presents a buy opportunity with Wall Street optimism (56.53% buy ratings) and solid fundamentals, but risks include margin compression from rising costs and competitive pressures. Near-term catalysts include the Q2 2026 earnings report, with expected EPS of $6.17, and the transition from the Target partnership, viewed as a growth opportunity by analysts.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →About Ulta Beauty Inc
With more than 1,300 stores and a partnership with Target, Ulta Beauty is the largest specialized beauty retailer in the U.S. The firm offers makeup (43% of 2021 sales), fragrances, skin care, and hair care products (20% of 2021 sales), and bath and body items. Ulta offers private-label products and merchandise from more than 500 vendors. It also offers salon services, including hair, makeup, skin, and brow services, in all stores. Most Ulta stores are approximately 10,000 square feet and are in suburban strip centers. Ulta was founded in 1990 and is based in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Read more on ULTA →
