🧮 NSC ROE Calculation
Understanding ROE
Return on Equity (ROE) measures how efficiently a company generates profits from shareholders' equity. For NSC, the current ROE is 16.80%.
Why ROE Matters
Warren Buffett has called ROE one of his favorite metrics because it shows how well management uses shareholders' capital to generate returns. A company that consistently earns 15%+ ROE is typically a well-run business that creates value for shareholders.
ROE Benchmarks
Excellent: >20%
Exceptional returns on equity. Often indicates strong competitive advantages. Common in capital-light businesses.
Good: 15-20%
Above-average ROE. Buffett often looks for companies in this range or higher.
Average: 10-15%
Typical for most companies. Returns are reasonable but not exceptional.
Below Average: <10%
May indicate poor capital allocation or challenging business conditions.
The DuPont Analysis
ROE can be decomposed into three components using DuPont analysis:
This breakdown reveals whether high ROE comes from high profitability (good), efficient asset use (good), or high leverage (potentially risky).
ROE vs ROIC: Which is Better?
ROIC: 9.69% →
ROIC measures returns on ALL capital. It's more comprehensive and less affected by leverage. Often considered the better quality metric.
ROE: 16.80%
ROE only measures returns on equity. Can be inflated by high debt. If ROE >> ROIC, the company uses significant leverage.
Owner Earnings: $2.4B →
Shows actual cash available to owners. Use alongside ROE and ROIC for complete analysis.
Net Income: $2.6B →
The numerator in ROE. Understanding net income trends helps explain ROE changes over time.
What to Look For
- Consistency: Stable or improving ROE over 5-10 years
- ROE vs ROIC gap: A large gap suggests high leverage — be cautious
- Debt levels: High ROE + High Debt = Higher risk
- Retained earnings: High ROE + high retention = compounding machine
📊 Full NSC Stock Report →
Intrinsic value, margin of safety, DCF valuation, and 250+ metrics.
🏆 NSC ROIC →
Compare ROE to ROIC — the more comprehensive measure of capital efficiency.
💹 NSC P/E Ratio →
Analyze valuation relative to earnings and understand market pricing.
👤 NSC Owner Earnings →
Warren Buffett's preferred measure of true economic earnings available to owners.
💰 NSC Net Income →
See the earnings that drive ROE calculations.
💵 NSC Free Cash Flow →
Actual cash generation after capital expenditures.
Summary: NSC Return on Equity
NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORP (NSC) has a ROE of 16.80%, which Zyberno classifies as good for a Industrials company — above the 12% threshold Zyberno applies to industrial companies where asset intensity moderates equity returns. Note: with a debt-to-equity of 1.03x, leverage is amplifying these returns — compare with ROIC (9.69%) for a leverage-neutral view. For complete financial analysis, view the full NSC stock report on Zyberno.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NSC's current ROE?
NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORP's Return on Equity (ROE) is 16.80%, measured against the 18% excellent threshold Zyberno applies to Industrials businesses. ROE measures the company's profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Is NSC's ROE good?
NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORP (NSC) has a ROE of 16.80%, which Zyberno classifies as good for a Industrials company — above the 12% threshold Zyberno applies to industrial companies where asset intensity moderates equity returns. Note: with a debt-to-equity of 1.03x, leverage is amplifying these returns — compare with ROIC (9.69%) for a leverage-neutral view.
What is the difference between ROE and ROIC?
ROE measures returns on shareholder equity only, while ROIC measures returns on all invested capital (debt + equity). NSC's ROE is 16.80% vs ROIC of 9.69%. ROE can be inflated by high debt, making ROIC often a more reliable quality metric.
Can high ROE be misleading?
Yes, high ROE can be misleading if achieved through high debt. NSC's debt-to-equity ratio is 1.03x. Compare ROE to ROIC — if ROE is much higher than ROIC, the company uses significant leverage which adds risk.
📊 Full NSC Stock Report →
See NSC's intrinsic value, margin of safety, DCF valuation, and complete financial analysis with 250+ metrics.
🏆 NSC ROIC →
Compare to Return on Invested Capital — the most comprehensive measure of capital efficiency.
💹 NSC P/E Ratio →
Analyze the price-to-earnings ratio and earnings yield as a valuation metric.
🎯 NSC Earnings Surprise (SUE) →
See whether NSC is beating or missing its own earnings trend — Standardized Unexpected Earnings and post-earnings drift.
👤 NSC Owner Earnings →
Warren Buffett's preferred measure of true economic earnings available to owners.
💰 NSC Net Income →
See the bottom-line profit that drives return calculations.
📊 NSC EPS →
Earnings per share — net income on a per-share basis.