Is CTAS or NSC cheaper?

On trailing earnings, NSC is cheaper: CTAS trades at a 37.28 P/E and NSC at 26.18.

Which has grown faster, CTAS or NSC?

Over the past five years, CTAS grew revenue faster — CTAS at a 9.83% CAGR versus NSC at 4.45%.

Does CTAS or NSC pay a bigger dividend?

CTAS yields 1.02% and NSC yields 1.74% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is CTAS or NSC more profitable?

NSC runs the higher net margin — CTAS at 17.57% versus NSC at 21.91%.

Which has been the better investment, CTAS or NSC?

Over the past 10-year, CTAS delivered the higher annualized total return — CTAS at 23.58% versus NSC at 16.29%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Cintas Corporation (CTAS) vs Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC)

NSC leads on 11 of 17 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Cintas Corporation and Norfolk Southern Corporation across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 17, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

Norfolk Southern Corporation

$69.81B

$310.81Industrials

Total return — CTAS vs NSC

growth of $100 · last 30y

CTAS +3826.9%NSC +1008.5%CTAS compounded faster

CTAS NSC

CTAS vs NSC: by the numbers

•CTAS is the larger company ($70.71B vs $69.81B market cap).
•NSC trades at the lower earnings multiple (26.18 vs 37.28 P/E).
•NSC converts more revenue to profit (21.91% vs 17.57% net margin).
•CTAS grew revenue faster over the past five years (9.83% vs 4.45% CAGR).
•NSC pays the higher dividend yield (1.74% vs 1.02%).

Which is better, CTAS or NSC?

Metric tally: CTAS 6 · NSC 11

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueNSC(lower P/E)

GrowthCTAS(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeNSC(higher dividend yield)

QualityCTAS(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	CTAS	NSC
P/E ratio	37.28	26.18●
Forward P/E	32.51	22.97●
P/S ratio	6.52	5.74●
P/B ratio	15.01	4.43●
PEG ratio	3.08	2.24●
EV / EBITDA	24.55	15.53●
FCF yield	2.49%	5.46%●

Profitability

Metric	CTAS	NSC
Gross margin	50.36%●	45.31%
Operating margin	22.95%	32.39%●
Net margin	17.57%	21.91%●
ROE	40.46%●	16.89%
ROIC	22.95%●	7.47%

Dividends

Metric	CTAS	NSC
Dividend yield	1.02%	1.74%●
Payout ratio	40.18%	42.35%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	CTAS	NSC
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	9.83%●	4.45%
EPS CAGR (5Y)	16.48%●	10.10%
FCF CAGR (5Y)	9.81%	10.65%●
Total return CAGR (5Y)	15.72%●	4.91%

Frequently asked

Which is better, CTAS or NSC?: It depends on your goal. value: NSC (lower P/E); growth: CTAS (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: NSC (higher dividend yield); quality: CTAS (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, NSC leads 11 to 6.
Is CTAS or NSC cheaper?: On trailing earnings, NSC is cheaper: CTAS trades at a 37.28 P/E and NSC at 26.18.
Which has grown faster, CTAS or NSC?: Over the past five years, CTAS grew revenue faster — CTAS at a 9.83% CAGR versus NSC at 4.45%.
Does CTAS or NSC pay a bigger dividend?: CTAS yields 1.02% and NSC yields 1.74% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is CTAS or NSC more profitable?: NSC runs the higher net margin — CTAS at 17.57% versus NSC at 21.91%.
Which has been the better investment, CTAS or NSC?: Over the past 10-year, CTAS delivered the higher annualized total return — CTAS at 23.58% versus NSC at 16.29%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full CTAS analysis Full NSC analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

Cintas P/E ratio Norfolk Southern P/E ratio Cintas dividend yield Norfolk Southern dividend yield Cintas ROE Norfolk Southern ROE Cintas operating margin Norfolk Southern operating margin Cintas revenue growth Norfolk Southern revenue growth Cintas free cash flow Norfolk Southern free cash flow

Cintas & Norfolk Southern appear in these rankings

Dividend Aristocrats Highest ROE Stocks Highest ROIC Stocks Highest Operating Margin Stocks

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 17, 2026.