Honeywell International Inc. (HON) vs Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC)
HON leads on 9 of 17 compared metrics.
A side-by-side comparison of Honeywell International Inc. and Norfolk Southern Corporation across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of July 1, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).
HON
Honeywell International Inc.
$221.87Industrials
NSC
Norfolk Southern Corporation
$318.88Industrials
Total return — HON vs NSC
growth of $100 · last 30yHON +307.2%NSC +980.3%NSC compounded faster
HON NSC
HON vs NSC: by the numbers
- •NSC is the larger company ($71.62B vs $70.29B market cap).
- •HON trades at the lower earnings multiple (15.86 vs 26.50 P/E).
- •NSC converts more revenue to profit (21.91% vs 11.16% net margin).
- •NSC grew revenue faster over the past five years (4.45% vs 2.42% CAGR).
- •HON pays the higher dividend yield (2.23% vs 1.72%).
Which is better, HON or NSC?
Metric tally: HON 9 · NSC 8It depends on what you're optimizing for:
ValueHON(lower P/E)
GrowthNSC(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
IncomeHON(higher dividend yield)
QualityHON(higher ROIC)
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | HON | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 15.86● | 26.50 |
| Forward P/E | 19.53● | 23.07 |
| P/S ratio | 1.94● | 5.81 |
| P/B ratio | 3.35● | 4.48 |
| PEG ratio | 9.11 | 2.24● |
| EV / EBITDA | 14.07● | 16.19 |
| FCF yield | 5.75%● | 5.40% |
Profitability
| Metric | HON | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 36.95% | 45.31%● |
| Operating margin | 14.87% | 32.39%● |
| Net margin | 11.16% | 21.91%● |
| ROE | 19.24%● | 16.89% |
| ROIC | 9.22%● | 7.47% |
Dividends
| Metric | HON | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 2.23%● | 1.72% |
| Payout ratio | 33.71% | 42.35% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | HON | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | 2.42% | 4.45%● |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | 1.74% | 10.10%● |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | -4.80% | 10.65%● |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | -10.85% | 5.64%● |
Frequently asked
- Which is better, HON or NSC?
- It depends on your goal. value: HON (lower P/E); growth: NSC (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: HON (higher dividend yield); quality: HON (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, HON leads 9 to 8.
- Is HON or NSC cheaper?
- On trailing earnings, HON is cheaper: HON trades at a 15.86 P/E and NSC at 26.50.
- Which has grown faster, HON or NSC?
- Over the past five years, NSC grew revenue faster — HON at a 2.42% CAGR versus NSC at 4.45%.
- Does HON or NSC pay a bigger dividend?
- HON yields 2.23% and NSC yields 1.72% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- Is HON or NSC more profitable?
- NSC runs the higher net margin — HON at 11.16% versus NSC at 21.91%.
- Which has been the better investment, HON or NSC?
- Over the past 10-year, NSC delivered the higher annualized total return — HON at 2.33% versus NSC at 16.30%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Honeywell International P/E ratioNorfolk Southern P/E ratioHoneywell International dividend yieldNorfolk Southern dividend yieldHoneywell International ROENorfolk Southern ROEHoneywell International operating marginNorfolk Southern operating marginHoneywell International revenue growthNorfolk Southern revenue growthHoneywell International free cash flowNorfolk Southern free cash flow
Honeywell International & Norfolk Southern appear in these rankings
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 July 1, 2026.