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 (NSC) Q3 Earnings: Taking a Look at Key Metrics Versus Estimates
Read MoreHide Full Article
For the quarter ended September 2026, Norfolk Southern (NSC - Free Report) reported revenue of $3.53 billion, up 13.6% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $3.62, compared to $3.30 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +1.8% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.46 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $3.48, the EPS surprise was +4.02%.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how Norfolk Southern performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Railway Operating Ratio: 67.4% compared to the 66.1% average estimate based on three analysts.
Revenue ton miles: 49.1 billion compared to the 48.48 billion average estimate based on two analysts.
Carloads (Units) - Volume - Merchandise: 611.5 thousand compared to the 611.45 thousand average estimate based on two analysts.
Carloads (Units) - Volume - Intermodal: 1.06 million versus 1.06 million estimated by two analysts on average.
Revenue per Carload (Unit) - Total: $1,902.00 versus the two-analyst average estimate of $1,891.03.
Railway operating revenues- Merchandise- Agriculture, forest and consumer products: $696 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $700.42 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +10.5%.
Railway operating revenues- Coal: $419 million compared to the $417.75 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +11.7% year over year.
Railway operating revenues- Merchandise- Chemicals: $658 million compared to the $639.98 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +15.6% year over year.
Railway operating revenues- Intermodal: $919 million versus $915.37 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +21.1% change.
Railway operating revenues- Merchandise- Automotive: $318 million compared to the $320.82 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of -1.2% year over year.
Railway operating revenues- Merchandise: $2.19 billion versus $2.17 billion estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +11.1% change.
Railway operating revenues- Merchandise- Metals and construction: $516 million compared to the $506.65 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +15.2% year over year.
Shares of Norfolk Southern have returned +4.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's no change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
Norfolk Southern (NSC) Q3 Earnings: Taking a Look at Key Metrics Versus Estimates
For the quarter ended September 2026, Norfolk Southern (NSC - Free Report) reported revenue of $3.53 billion, up 13.6% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $3.62, compared to $3.30 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +1.8% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.46 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $3.48, the EPS surprise was +4.02%.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how Norfolk Southern performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:View all Key Company Metrics for Norfolk Southern here>>>
Shares of Norfolk Southern have returned +4.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's no change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.