Norfolk Southern Corporation
NSCIndustrials · Stock · quarterly payer
Forward Yield
1.59%
Annual Dividend
$5.40
Payout Ratio
45%
5-Yr Growth
7.5%
Ex-Date
May 8, 2026
Frequency
Quarterly
Summary
As of July 2026, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) yields 1.59% ($5.40 per share annually), with a blended fair-value estimate of $329.81 — -3% downside, so it screens as fairly valued. Dividend safety grade: A (86/100).
Is NSC a good dividend stock?
YesNorfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 1.59% ($5.40/yr), with 0 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.
Advantages
- Comfortable payout ratio (45%)
- Strong 7.5% 5-yr dividend growth
- Top-tier dividend safety score
Risks
- Cut its dividend in 2001
Key Data
- Dividend Yield
- 1.59%
- Payout Ratio
- 45%
- Annual Dividend
- $5.40
- 5-Yr Avg Growth
- 7.5%
- Ex-Dividend Date
- May 8, 2026
- Years of Growth
- 0
- Frequency
- quarterly
- Beta
- 1.26
- Market Cap
- $75.2B
- P/E Ratio
- 28.7
- 5-Yr Total Return
- 34%
- 52-Week Range
- $268.23 – $342.53
- Dividend Safety
- A · 86/100
- Ever Cut?
- Yes (2001)
Frequently Asked Questions
NSC Price — Last 12 Months
Daily close
Price Return
1 Year
+21%
3 Years
+66%
5 Years
+34%
52-Week Range
$268.23 – $342.53
Price change over each period (excludes dividends). Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
What is NSC worth?
Fairly valuedlow confidenceOur blended fair-value estimate for Norfolk Southern Corporation is $329.81 per share, versus a market price of $340.16. That implies the stock is roughly fairly priced.
Fair Value
$329.81
Current Price
$340.16
Gap
-3%
Margin of Safety
-3%
How we get there
Earnings multiple (Graham)
Graham's earnings-multiple formula, anchored to bond yields.
At today's price, the market is pricing in about 40.0% annual free-cash-flow growth. We model 10.9% — so the price already assumes faster growth than we think is likely.
Assumptions: 10.6% discount rate (CAPM), 10.9% stage-1 growth, 2.5% terminal growth, $11.87 EPS, $5.40 annual dividend. Updated weekly.
Fair-value estimates are model output for educational purposes only — not investment advice or a price target.
NSC Dividend Safety Score
Very Safe
SmarterDividends' proprietary score, backtested against which dividends were actually cut over 15+ years (0.78 AUC). It blends a validated cut-risk model (growth streak, cut history) with current payout, cash-flow and debt. Higher is safer · not investment advice.
Dividend Growth
Total dividends per share by year
Dividend History
| Ex-Date | Pay Date | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2026 | — | $1.3500 | regular |
| Feb 6, 2026 | — | $1.3500 | regular |
| Nov 7, 2025 | — | $1.3500 | regular |
| Aug 1, 2025 | — | $1.3500 | regular |
| May 2, 2025 | — | $1.3500 | regular |
| Feb 7, 2025 | — | $1.3500 | regular |
| Nov 1, 2024 | — | $1.3500 | regular |
| Aug 2, 2024 | — | $1.3500 | regular |
| May 2, 2024 | — | $1.3500 | regular |
| Feb 1, 2024 | — | $1.3500 | regular |
| Nov 2, 2023 | — | $1.3500 | regular |
| Aug 3, 2023 | — | $1.3500 | regular |
| May 4, 2023 | — | $1.3500 | regular |
| Feb 2, 2023 | — | $1.3500 | regular |
Income Calculator
At $5.40 / yr per share
