Is EMR or NSC cheaper?

On trailing earnings, NSC is cheaper: EMR trades at a 33.04 P/E and NSC at 26.45.

Which has grown faster, EMR or NSC?

Over the past five years, NSC grew revenue faster — EMR at a 1.43% CAGR versus NSC at 4.45%.

Does EMR or NSC pay a bigger dividend?

EMR yields 1.53% and NSC yields 1.72% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is EMR or NSC more profitable?

NSC runs the higher net margin — EMR at 13.35% versus NSC at 21.91%.

Which has been the better investment, EMR or NSC?

Over the past 10-year, NSC delivered the higher annualized total return — EMR at 13.28% versus NSC at 16.41%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Emerson Electric Co. (EMR) vs Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC)

NSC leads on 11 of 17 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Emerson Electric Co. and Norfolk Southern Corporation across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 13, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

Norfolk Southern Corporation

$70.50B

$313.91Industrials

Total return — EMR vs NSC

growth of $100 · last 30y

EMR +552.1%NSC +1011.2%NSC compounded faster

EMR NSC

EMR vs NSC: by the numbers

•EMR is the larger company ($80.13B vs $70.50B market cap).
•NSC trades at the lower earnings multiple (26.45 vs 33.04 P/E).
•NSC converts more revenue to profit (21.91% vs 13.35% net margin).
•NSC grew revenue faster over the past five years (4.45% vs 1.43% CAGR).
•NSC pays the higher dividend yield (1.72% vs 1.53%).

Which is better, EMR or NSC?

Metric tally: EMR 6 · NSC 11

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueNSC(lower P/E)

GrowthNSC(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeNSC(higher dividend yield)

QualityNSC(higher ROIC)

Valuation

Metric	EMR	NSC
P/E ratio	33.04	26.45●
Forward P/E	19.92●	23.20
P/S ratio	4.40●	5.80
P/B ratio	3.97●	4.47
PEG ratio	1.77●	2.24
EV / EBITDA	17.92	15.65●
FCF yield	3.87%	5.41%●

Profitability

Metric	EMR	NSC
Gross margin	52.66%●	45.31%
Operating margin	19.96%	32.39%●
Net margin	13.35%	21.91%●
ROE	12.04%	16.89%●
ROIC	7.26%	7.47%●

Dividends

Metric	EMR	NSC
Dividend yield	1.53%	1.72%●
Payout ratio	53.87%	42.35%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	EMR	NSC
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	1.43%	4.45%●
EPS CAGR (5Y)	4.54%	10.10%●
FCF CAGR (5Y)	-0.23%	10.65%●
Total return CAGR (5Y)	10.27%●	5.11%

Frequently asked

Which is better, EMR or NSC?: It depends on your goal. value: NSC (lower P/E); growth: NSC (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: NSC (higher dividend yield); quality: NSC (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, NSC leads 11 to 6.
Is EMR or NSC cheaper?: On trailing earnings, NSC is cheaper: EMR trades at a 33.04 P/E and NSC at 26.45.
Which has grown faster, EMR or NSC?: Over the past five years, NSC grew revenue faster — EMR at a 1.43% CAGR versus NSC at 4.45%.
Does EMR or NSC pay a bigger dividend?: EMR yields 1.53% and NSC yields 1.72% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is EMR or NSC more profitable?: NSC runs the higher net margin — EMR at 13.35% versus NSC at 21.91%.
Which has been the better investment, EMR or NSC?: Over the past 10-year, NSC delivered the higher annualized total return — EMR at 13.28% versus NSC at 16.41%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full EMR analysis Full NSC analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

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

Emerson Electric & Norfolk Southern appear in these rankings

Dividend Aristocrats Highest Operating Margin Stocks Highest FCF Yield Stocks Best 10-Year Total Return 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 13, 2026.