Norfolk Southern Corporation vs Yum! Brands, Inc. — how do they compare? Norfolk Southern Corporation trades at $323.3 (market cap $72.62B), while Yum! Brands, Inc. trades at $144.94 (market cap $39.61B). The key difference: Norfolk Southern Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and Yum! Brands, Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.07%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| NSC | YUM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $72.62B | $39.61B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $352.98 | $168.16 |
52-Week Low | $272.36 | $138.21 |
Enterprise Value | $88.16B | $51.22B |
Dividend Yield | 1.67% | 2.07% |
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.
YUM trades at $149.59, down 0.74% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages. The company reported revenue of $8.21B in 2025, with net income of $1.56B and a net margin of 25.4%. Recent developments include the sale of Pizza Hut for approximately $1.5B to LongRange Capital, completed on September 1, 2026, and a declared quarterly dividend of $0.75 per share. Analyst consensus is a buy rating with a price target of $173.60, though technical indicators suggest near-term caution.
Outlook remains supported by strong profitability and strategic portfolio optimization, but risks include high debt levels and competitive pressures. The stock offers potential upside to the consensus target, yet investor sentiment is mixed amid broader market volatility and recent insider selling.
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 →Yum Brands is a U.S.-based restaurant operator featuring a portfolio of four brands: KFC (26,930 global units), Pizza Hut (18,380 units), Taco Bell (7,790 units), and The Habit Burger (310 units) at year-end 2021. With $58 billion in 2021 systemwide sales, the firm is the second-largest restaurant company in the world, behind McDonald's ($112.5 billion) but ahead of Restaurant Brands International ($36 billion) and Starbucks ($25 billion). Yum is 98% franchised, with the largest franchisee, Yum China, created via a 2016 spinoff transaction (after which Yum China agreed to pay 3% royalties to Yum Brands in perpetuity). Yum is the newest evolution of Tricon Brands, formerly a division of PepsiCo, and generates the bulk of its revenue from franchise royalties and marketing contributions.
Read more on YUM →