Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC)vsWestern Digital Corporation (WDC)
NSC
Norfolk Southern Corporation
$311.66
-1.34%
INDUSTRIALS · Cap: $70.95B
WDC
Western Digital Corporation
$442.36
+2.51%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $152.47B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Norfolk Southern Corporation generates 3% more annual revenue ($12.19B vs $11.78B). WDC leads profitability with a 55.3% profit margin vs 21.9%. WDC appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.87. WDC earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 79/100 (B+).
NSC
Buy55
out of 100
Grade: C
WDC
Strong Buy79
out of 100
Grade: B+
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Strong operational efficiency at 32.3%
Large-cap with strong market position
Keeps 22 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Every $100 of equity generates 86 in profit
Keeps 55 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 37.0%
Revenue surging 45.5% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 477.2% YoY
Large-cap with strong market position
Areas to Watch
Moderate valuation
0.2% revenue growth
Expensive relative to growth rate
Earnings declined 26.6%
Moderate valuation
Trading at 21.2x book value
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : NSC
The strongest argument for NSC centers on Operating Margin, Market Cap, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 21.9% and operating margin at 32.3%.
Bull Case : WDC
The strongest argument for WDC centers on Return on Equity, Profit Margin, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 55.3% and operating margin at 37.0%. Revenue growth of 45.5% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : NSC
The primary concerns for NSC are P/E Ratio, Revenue Growth, PEG Ratio.
Bear Case : WDC
The primary concerns for WDC are P/E Ratio, Price/Book.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
NSC profiles as a value stock while WDC is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
WDC carries more volatility with a beta of 2.16 — expect wider price swings.
WDC is growing revenue faster at 45.5% — sustainability is the question.
WDC generates stronger free cash flow (978M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
WDC scores higher overall (79/100 vs 55/100), backed by strong 55.3% margins and 45.5% revenue growth. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Norfolk Southern Corporation
INDUSTRIALS · RAILROADS · USA
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I freight railroad in the United States, and is the current name of the former Southern Railway. With headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, the company operates 19,420 route miles (31,250 km) in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia, and has rights in Canada over the Albany to Montreal route of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and previously on CN from Buffalo to St. Thomas.
Western Digital Corporation
TECHNOLOGY · COMPUTER HARDWARE · USA
Western Digital Corporation (WDC, commonly known as Western Digital or WD) is an American computer hard disk drive manufacturer and data storage company, headquartered in San Jose, California. It designs, manufactures and sells data technology products, including storage devices, data center systems and cloud storage services.
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