Do Wall Street Analysts Like Norfolk Southern Stock?

Atlanta, Georgia-based Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) engages in the rail transportation of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished goods in the United States. The company has a market cap of $77.6 billion and transports agriculture, forest, and consumer products comprising soybeans, wheat, corn, fertilizers, livestock feed, and more.

NSC stock has rallied the broader market over the past year, growing 21% compared to the S&P 500 Index’s ($SPX) 20.6% surge. Moreover, in 2026, the stock has risen by nearly 19.7%, outperforming the SPX’s 12.6% rise.  

Focusing on its industry benchmark, the State Street Industrials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) has risen 20.2% over the past year, underperforming the stock. In 2026, XLI has grown 17.3% and has also lagged behind the stock.

On Aug. 19, NSC stock rose 2% following approval from a federal regulator to allow the company, along with Union Pacific Corporation (UNP), to move forward with plans to create the first coast-to-coast freight network in the United States. This combined railroad significantly expands Committed Gateway Pricing (CGP), doubling the number of eligible shipments and extending benefits to bulk unit train shippers for both companies, along with several other upsides. 

For the current year, which ends in December, analysts expect NSC’s EPS to increase 1.4% to $12.66 on a diluted basis. The company surpassed the consensus estimate in each of the last four quarters.     

Among the 21 analysts covering NSC stock, the consensus is a “Moderate Buy.” That’s based on five “Strong Buy” ratings and 16 “Holds.”  

The configuration has remained more or less unchanged over the past three months.  

On Aug. 14, Wells Fargo analyst Christian Wetherbee maintained a “Buy” rating for NSC stock and set a price target of $385.  

NSC’s mean price target of $367.56 offers a 5.1% upside compared to the current market price. Its Street-high target of $414 implies a 18.4% upside from current levels. 

On the date of publication, Aritra Gangopadhyay did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.