Is MMM or NSC cheaper?

On trailing earnings, NSC is cheaper: MMM trades at a 30.50 P/E and NSC at 26.45.

Which has grown faster, MMM or NSC?

Over the past five years, NSC grew revenue faster — MMM at a -5.36% CAGR versus NSC at 4.45%.

Does MMM or NSC pay a bigger dividend?

MMM yields 1.91% and NSC yields 1.72% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is MMM or NSC more profitable?

NSC runs the higher net margin — MMM at 11.14% versus NSC at 21.91%.

Which has been the better investment, MMM or NSC?

Over the past 10-year, NSC delivered the higher annualized total return — MMM at 4.53% versus NSC at 16.41%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

3M Company (MMM) vs Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC)

NSC leads on 11 of 16 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of 3M Company and Norfolk Southern Corporation across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 14, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

Norfolk Southern Corporation

$70.50B

$313.91Industrials

Total return — MMM vs NSC

growth of $100 · last 30y

MMM +454.0%NSC +1021.1%NSC compounded faster

MMM NSC

MMM vs NSC: by the numbers

•MMM is the larger company ($82.57B vs $70.50B market cap).
•NSC trades at the lower earnings multiple (26.45 vs 30.50 P/E).
•NSC converts more revenue to profit (21.91% vs 11.14% net margin).
•NSC grew revenue faster over the past five years (4.45% vs -5.36% CAGR).
•MMM pays the higher dividend yield (1.91% vs 1.72%).

Which is better, MMM or NSC?

Metric tally: MMM 5 · NSC 11

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueNSC(lower P/E)

GrowthNSC(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeMMM(higher dividend yield)

QualityMMM(higher ROIC)

Valuation

Metric	MMM	NSC
P/E ratio	30.50	26.45●
Forward P/E	16.70●	23.20
P/S ratio	3.37●	5.80
P/B ratio	25.85	4.47●
PEG ratio	—	2.24
EV / EBITDA	18.55	15.65●
FCF yield	2.44%	5.41%●

Profitability

Metric	MMM	NSC
Gross margin	39.51%	45.31%●
Operating margin	19.60%	32.39%●
Net margin	11.14%	21.91%●
ROE	85.41%●	16.89%
ROIC	11.53%●	7.47%

Dividends

Metric	MMM	NSC
Dividend yield	1.91%●	1.72%
Payout ratio	50.00%	42.35%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	MMM	NSC
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	-5.36%	4.45%●
EPS CAGR (5Y)	-8.53%	10.10%●
FCF CAGR (5Y)	-21.95%	10.65%●
Total return CAGR (5Y)	2.23%	5.11%●

Frequently asked

Which is better, MMM or NSC?: It depends on your goal. value: NSC (lower P/E); growth: NSC (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: MMM (higher dividend yield); quality: MMM (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, NSC leads 11 to 5.
Is MMM or NSC cheaper?: On trailing earnings, NSC is cheaper: MMM trades at a 30.50 P/E and NSC at 26.45.
Which has grown faster, MMM or NSC?: Over the past five years, NSC grew revenue faster — MMM at a -5.36% CAGR versus NSC at 4.45%.
Does MMM or NSC pay a bigger dividend?: MMM yields 1.91% and NSC yields 1.72% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is MMM or NSC more profitable?: NSC runs the higher net margin — MMM at 11.14% versus NSC at 21.91%.
Which has been the better investment, MMM or NSC?: Over the past 10-year, NSC delivered the higher annualized total return — MMM at 4.53% versus NSC at 16.41%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full MMM analysis Full NSC analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

3M P/E ratio Norfolk Southern P/E ratio 3M dividend yield Norfolk Southern dividend yield 3M ROE Norfolk Southern ROE 3M operating margin Norfolk Southern operating margin 3M revenue growth Norfolk Southern revenue growth 3M free cash flow Norfolk Southern free cash flow

3M & Norfolk Southern appear in these rankings

Highest ROE Stocks 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 14, 2026.