Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC)vsWelltower Inc (WELL)
NSC
Norfolk Southern Corporation
$282.61
-0.36%
INDUSTRIALS · Cap: $63.70B
WELL
Welltower Inc
$196.73
+0.06%
REAL ESTATE · Cap: $137.19B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Norfolk Southern Corporation generates 12% more annual revenue ($12.18B vs $10.84B). NSC leads profitability with a 23.6% profit margin vs 8.6%. WELL appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 3.62. NSC earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 53/100 (C-).
NSC
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
WELL
Hold39
out of 100
Grade: F
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-265.7%
Fair Value
$86.77
Current Price
$282.61
$195.84 premium
Margin of Safety
-2052.0%
Fair Value
$9.66
Current Price
$196.73
$187.07 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Strong operational efficiency at 31.2%
Large-cap with strong market position
Keeps 24 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Revenue surging 41.3% year-over-year
Large-cap with strong market position
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Revenue declined 1.7%
Earnings declined 11.4%
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
ROE of 2.5% — below average capital efficiency
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Earnings declined 26.3%
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 23.6% and operating margin at 31.2%.
Bull Case : WELL
The strongest argument for WELL centers on Revenue Growth, Market Cap. Revenue growth of 41.3% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : NSC
The primary concerns for NSC are PEG Ratio, Revenue Growth, EPS Growth.
Bear Case : WELL
The primary concerns for WELL are Return on Equity, PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio. A P/E of 138.5x leaves little room for execution misses.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
NSC profiles as a declining stock while WELL is a hypergrowth play — different risk/reward profiles.
NSC carries more volatility with a beta of 1.30 — expect wider price swings.
WELL is growing revenue faster at 41.3% — sustainability is the question.
WELL generates stronger free cash flow (647M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
NSC scores higher overall (53/100 vs 39/100), backed by strong 23.6% margins. Both earn "Buy" and "Hold" 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.
Welltower Inc
REAL ESTATE · REIT - HEALTHCARE FACILITIES · USA
Welltower Inc. is a real estate investment trust that invests in healthcare infrastructure.
Visit Website →Compare with Other RAILROADS Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?