We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Norfolk Southern to Report Q1 Earnings: What's in the Cards?
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
NSC is set to report Q1 2026 earnings on April 24, estimated EPS down 3.4% and expected to fall 4.5% YoY.
NSC faces weak freight demand, lower volumes and a 5.3% drop expected in intermodal revenues.
NSC may see support from e-commerce shipments and cost containment efforts.
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC - Free Report) is scheduled to report first-quarter 2026 results on April 24, before market open.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NSC’s first-quarter 2026 earnings has been revised downward 3.4% over the past 60 days to $2.57 per share. The consensus mark for earnings implies a 4.5% decline from the year-ago actuals. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company's first-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $2.99 billion, indicating a 0.1% fall year over year.
Norfolk Southern has an encouraging earnings surprise history. The company’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters (missed the mark in the remaining quarter), delivering an average beat of 4.78%.
Norfolk Southern Corporation Price and EPS Surprise
Let’s see how things have shaped up for Norfolk Southern this earnings season.
Factors Likely to Have Influenced NSC’s Q1 Performance
We expect NSC’s performance in the to-be-reported quarter to have been significantly impacted by softness in freight market demand and lower volumes. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the Railway operating revenues from the intermodal segment is anticipated to have decreased 5.3% from the year-ago actuals.
Rising operating expenses, along with ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and supply-chain disruptions, are likely to have materially affected NSC’s performance in the March-end quarter.
On the contrary, shipment volumes for Norfolk Southern are likely to have been driven by e-commerce demand, thereby boosting the company’s top line. Service quality is being improved through NSC’s Precision Scheduled Railroading operating plan, ensuring efficient use of assets.
What Our Model Says About NSC
Our proven model does not predict an earnings beat for Norfolk this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Norfolk Southern’s fourth-quarter 2025 earnings (excluding 35 cents from non-recurring items) of $3.22 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.78 and increased 5.9% year over year.
Railway operating revenues were $2.97 billion in the quarter under review, lagging the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.00 billion. The top line fell 1.6% year over year, reflecting a 4% decline in volume. Total revenues per unit rose 2% year over year.
Stocks to Consider
Here are a few stocks from the broader Zacks Transportation sector that investors may consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.
Landstar (LSTR - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.43% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present and is scheduled to report first-quarter 2026 results on April 28, after market close.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter earnings has remained unchanged at $1.10 per share over the past 60 days. LSTR has a discouraging earnings surprise history, as its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the preceding four quarters and missed twice in the remaining, delivering an average miss of 0.39%.
Expeditors (EXPD - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.25% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present and is scheduled to report first-quarter 2026 results on May 5.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter earnings has been revised upwards by 0.76% to $1.33 per share over the past 60 days. EXPD has an encouraging earnings surprise history as its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the preceding four quarters, with an average beat of 10.1%.
Zacks' 7 Best Strong Buy Stocks (New Research Report)
Valued at $99, click below to receive our just-released report
predicting the 7 stocks that will soar highest in the coming month.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
Norfolk Southern to Report Q1 Earnings: What's in the Cards?
Key Takeaways
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC - Free Report) is scheduled to report first-quarter 2026 results on April 24, before market open.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NSC’s first-quarter 2026 earnings has been revised downward 3.4% over the past 60 days to $2.57 per share. The consensus mark for earnings implies a 4.5% decline from the year-ago actuals. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company's first-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $2.99 billion, indicating a 0.1% fall year over year.
Norfolk Southern has an encouraging earnings surprise history. The company’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters (missed the mark in the remaining quarter), delivering an average beat of 4.78%.
Norfolk Southern Corporation Price and EPS Surprise
Norfolk Southern Corporation price-eps-surprise | Norfolk Southern Corporation Quote
Let’s see how things have shaped up for Norfolk Southern this earnings season.
Factors Likely to Have Influenced NSC’s Q1 Performance
We expect NSC’s performance in the to-be-reported quarter to have been significantly impacted by softness in freight market demand and lower volumes. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the Railway operating revenues from the intermodal segment is anticipated to have decreased 5.3% from the year-ago actuals.
Rising operating expenses, along with ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and supply-chain disruptions, are likely to have materially affected NSC’s performance in the March-end quarter.
On the contrary, shipment volumes for Norfolk Southern are likely to have been driven by e-commerce demand, thereby boosting the company’s top line. Service quality is being improved through NSC’s Precision Scheduled Railroading operating plan, ensuring efficient use of assets.
What Our Model Says About NSC
Our proven model does not predict an earnings beat for Norfolk this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
NSC has an Earnings ESP of -2.23% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Highlights of NSC’s Q4 Results
Norfolk Southern’s fourth-quarter 2025 earnings (excluding 35 cents from non-recurring items) of $3.22 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.78 and increased 5.9% year over year.
Railway operating revenues were $2.97 billion in the quarter under review, lagging the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.00 billion. The top line fell 1.6% year over year, reflecting a 4% decline in volume. Total revenues per unit rose 2% year over year.
Stocks to Consider
Here are a few stocks from the broader Zacks Transportation sector that investors may consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.
Landstar (LSTR - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.43% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present and is scheduled to report first-quarter 2026 results on April 28, after market close.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter earnings has remained unchanged at $1.10 per share over the past 60 days. LSTR has a discouraging earnings surprise history, as its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the preceding four quarters and missed twice in the remaining, delivering an average miss of 0.39%.
Expeditors (EXPD - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.25% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present and is scheduled to report first-quarter 2026 results on May 5.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter earnings has been revised upwards by 0.76% to $1.33 per share over the past 60 days. EXPD has an encouraging earnings surprise history as its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the preceding four quarters, with an average beat of 10.1%.