Is NSC or RSG cheaper?

On trailing earnings, NSC is cheaper: NSC trades at a 26.35 P/E and RSG at 31.05.

Which has grown faster, NSC or RSG?

Over the past five years, RSG grew revenue faster — NSC at a 4.45% CAGR versus RSG at 10.37%.

Does NSC or RSG pay a bigger dividend?

NSC yields 1.73% and RSG yields 1.16% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is NSC or RSG more profitable?

NSC runs the higher net margin — NSC at 21.91% versus RSG at 12.99%.

Which has been the better investment, NSC or RSG?

Over the past 10-year, RSG delivered the higher annualized total return — NSC at 16.57% versus RSG at 17.77%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) vs Republic Services, Inc. (RSG)

NSC leads on 9 of 17 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Norfolk Southern Corporation and Republic Services, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 29, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

NSC

Norfolk Southern Corporation

$70.26B

$312.81Industrials

RSG

Republic Services, Inc.

$66.58B

$216.39Industrials

Total return — NSC vs RSG

growth of $100 · last 28y

NSC +949.3%RSG +1172.9%RSG compounded faster

NSC RSG

NSC vs RSG: by the numbers

•NSC is the larger company ($70.26B vs $66.58B market cap).
•NSC trades at the lower earnings multiple (26.35 vs 31.05 P/E).
•NSC converts more revenue to profit (21.91% vs 12.99% net margin).
•RSG grew revenue faster over the past five years (10.37% vs 4.45% CAGR).
•NSC pays the higher dividend yield (1.73% vs 1.16%).

Which is better, NSC or RSG?

Metric tally: NSC 9 · RSG 8

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueNSC(lower P/E)

GrowthRSG(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeNSC(higher dividend yield)

QualityRSG(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	NSC	RSG
P/E ratio	26.35●	31.05
Forward P/E	23.08●	26.83
P/S ratio	5.78	4.01●
P/B ratio	4.46●	5.58
PEG ratio	2.24●	5.58
EV / EBITDA	16.12	12.69●
FCF yield	5.43%●	3.88%

Profitability

Metric	NSC	RSG
Gross margin	45.31%●	39.07%
Operating margin	32.39%●	20.05%
Net margin	21.91%●	12.99%
ROE	16.89%	18.11%●
ROIC	7.47%	8.83%●

Dividends

Metric	NSC	RSG
Dividend yield	1.73%●	1.16%
Payout ratio	42.35%	36.44%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	NSC	RSG
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	4.45%	10.37%●
EPS CAGR (5Y)	10.10%	17.76%●
FCF CAGR (5Y)	10.65%	13.38%●
Total return CAGR (5Y)	5.48%	16.21%●

Frequently asked

Which is better, NSC or RSG?: It depends on your goal. value: NSC (lower P/E); growth: RSG (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: NSC (higher dividend yield); quality: RSG (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, NSC leads 9 to 8.
Is NSC or RSG cheaper?: On trailing earnings, NSC is cheaper: NSC trades at a 26.35 P/E and RSG at 31.05.
Which has grown faster, NSC or RSG?: Over the past five years, RSG grew revenue faster — NSC at a 4.45% CAGR versus RSG at 10.37%.
Does NSC or RSG pay a bigger dividend?: NSC yields 1.73% and RSG yields 1.16% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is NSC or RSG more profitable?: NSC runs the higher net margin — NSC at 21.91% versus RSG at 12.99%.
Which has been the better investment, NSC or RSG?: Over the past 10-year, RSG delivered the higher annualized total return — NSC at 16.57% versus RSG at 17.77%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full NSC analysis Full RSG analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

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

Norfolk Southern & Republic Services appear in these rankings

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 29, 2026.