Norfolk Southern (NSC) Operating Margin (2009 - 2026)
Norfolk Southern (NSC) posted quarterly Operating Margin of 32.44% for Q2 2026, down 534.0% year-over-year from 7.47% in Q2 2025, and up 10.89% quarter-over-quarter from 29.25% in Q1 2026.
Norfolk Southern (NSC) Operating Margin (2009 - 2026) Analysis & Trends
Norfolk Southern (NSC) has reported Operating Margin for 18 consecutive years, with 32.44% the latest figure, recorded in Q2 2026.
- In Q2 2026, Operating Margin fell 534.0% year-over-year to 32.44%; the TTM figure through Jun 2026 stood at 32.19% (down 927.0% YoY), while the FY2025 annual figure was 35.76%, up 218.0% from the prior year.
- Operating Margin advanced to 32.44% in Q2 2026 per NSC's latest filing, from 29.25% in the prior quarter.
- Across five years, Operating Margin topped out at 52.31% in Q3 2024 and bottomed at 7.09% in Q1 2024.
- Historically, Operating Margin has averaged 32.4% across 5 years, with a median of 35.93% in 2025.
- Annual changes were most pronounced in 2023 — Operating Margin plunged 1978 bps — and 2025, when it soared 3120 bps.
- Norfolk Southern's Operating Margin stood at 36.48% in 2022, then decreased by 28 bps to 26.29% in 2023, then soared by 42 bps to 37.4% in 2024, then decreased by 16 bps to 31.51% in 2025, then advanced by 3 bps to 32.44% in 2026.
- Business Quant data shows NSC's Operating Margin at 32.44% in Q2 2026, 29.25% in Q1 2026, and 31.51% in Q4 2025.
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Peer Comparison
| # | Company | Market Cap | Enterprise Value | Gross Profit (Qtr) | Operating Margin (Qtr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Union Pacific | 180.52 Bn | 178.40 Bn | 6.50 Bn | 40.25% |
| 2 | Csx | 94.59 Bn | 93.20 Bn | 3.29 Bn | 38.27% |
| 3 | Canadian Pacific Kansas City | 84.21 Bn | 83.94 Bn | 2.92 Bn | 35.35% |
| 4 | Canadian National Railway | 78.52 Bn | 78.52 Bn | - | - |
| 5 | Norfolk Southern | 77.93 Bn | 76.86 Bn | - | 32.44% |
| 6 | Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies | 49.47 Bn | 48.80 Bn | 1.16 Bn | 18.87% |
| 7 | Trinity Industries | 2.37 Bn | 2.21 Bn | 109.90 Mn | 41.19% |
| 8 | Greenbrier Companies | 1.42 Bn | 1.15 Bn | 81.10 Mn | 5.53% |
| 9 | Foster L B | 390.24 Mn | 384.46 Mn | 30.87 Mn | 4.44% |
| 10 | FreightCar America | 228.00 Mn | 163.70 Mn | - | - |
Historic Data
Download Data| Date | Value |
|---|---|
| Jun 30, 2026 | 32.44% |
| Mar 31, 2026 | 29.25% |
| Dec 31, 2025 | 31.51% |
| Sep 30, 2025 | 35.39% |
| Jun 30, 2025 | 37.78% |
| Mar 31, 2025 | 38.29% |
| Dec 31, 2024 | 37.40% |
| Sep 30, 2024 | 52.31% |
| Jun 30, 2024 | 37.16% |
| Mar 31, 2024 | 7.09% |
| Dec 31, 2023 | 26.29% |
| Sep 30, 2023 | 25.45% |
| Jun 30, 2023 | 19.33% |
| Mar 31, 2023 | 22.70% |
| Dec 31, 2022 | 36.48% |
| Sep 30, 2022 | 38.05% |
| Jun 30, 2022 | 39.11% |
| Mar 31, 2022 | 37.22% |
| Dec 31, 2021 | 39.59% |
| Sep 30, 2021 | 39.83% |