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U.S. Railroads Industry Analysis

UpdatedFeb 21, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies5
  • 7D2.0%
  • 3M17.3%
  • 1Y17.6%
  • YTDn/a

In the last week, Railroads has been flat. The past year has been better, since the industry has gained 15% in that time. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 9.2% per annum.

Industry Valuation and Performance

Has the U.S. Railroads Industry valuation changed over the past few years?

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Sat, 21 Feb 2026US$304.8bUS$51.2bUS$12.6b24.7x24.1x6x
Mon, 19 Jan 2026US$269.5bUS$51.3bUS$12.6b22x21.3x5.2x
Wed, 17 Dec 2025US$279.6bUS$51.3bUS$12.6b22.3x22.1x5.4x
Fri, 14 Nov 2025US$263.3bUS$51.3bUS$12.6b21.5x20.8x5.1x
Sun, 12 Oct 2025US$265.2bUS$51.1bUS$13.2b19.3x20.1x5.2x
Tue, 09 Sep 2025US$254.1bUS$51.1bUS$13.2b18.6x19.2x5x
Thu, 07 Aug 2025US$263.0bUS$51.1bUS$13.3b19.3x19.8x5.1x
Sat, 05 Jul 2025US$264.2bUS$51.0bUS$13.2b19.5x20.1x5.2x
Mon, 02 Jun 2025US$248.2bUS$51.0bUS$13.2b18.3x18.9x4.9x
Wed, 30 Apr 2025US$229.9bUS$51.0bUS$13.0b16.3x17.7x4.5x
Fri, 28 Mar 2025US$254.4bUS$51.2bUS$12.5b20.3x20.3x5x
Sun, 23 Feb 2025US$267.5bUS$51.2bUS$12.6b21.4x21.2x5.2x
Tue, 21 Jan 2025US$261.5bUS$51.5bUS$12.5b21.4x20.9x5.1x
Thu, 19 Dec 2024US$258.6bUS$51.5bUS$12.5b20.5x20.7x5x
Sat, 16 Nov 2024US$272.4bUS$51.5bUS$12.5b21.5x21.8x5.3x
Mon, 14 Oct 2024US$273.0bUS$51.2bUS$11.7b22.7x23.4x5.3x
Wed, 11 Sep 2024US$277.3bUS$51.2bUS$11.7b23.7x23.8x5.4x
Fri, 09 Aug 2024US$264.7bUS$51.2bUS$11.7b22.6x22.7x5.2x
Sun, 07 Jul 2024US$252.2bUS$51.1bUS$11.2b21.5x22.5x4.9x
Tue, 04 Jun 2024US$259.7bUS$51.1bUS$11.2b21.8x23.1x5.1x
Thu, 02 May 2024US$262.4bUS$51.1bUS$11.2b22.4x23.3x5.1x
Sat, 30 Mar 2024US$280.8bUS$51.3bUS$11.7b23.5x23.9x5.5x
Mon, 26 Feb 2024US$290.5bUS$51.2bUS$11.7b24.6x24.8x5.7x
Wed, 24 Jan 2024US$271.5bUS$51.5bUS$12.1b23.3x22.4x5.3x
Fri, 22 Dec 2023US$265.2bUS$51.5bUS$12.1b23.2x21.9x5.2x
Sun, 19 Nov 2023US$243.1bUS$51.5bUS$12.1b21x20.1x4.7x
Tue, 17 Oct 2023US$237.2bUS$52.8bUS$13.2b17.8x17.9x4.5x
Thu, 14 Sep 2023US$236.4bUS$52.8bUS$13.2b17.7x17.9x4.5x
Sat, 12 Aug 2023US$250.9bUS$52.8bUS$13.2b19.1x19x4.8x
Mon, 10 Jul 2023US$243.4bUS$53.5bUS$14.1b17x17.2x4.6x
Wed, 07 Jun 2023US$233.4bUS$53.5bUS$14.1b15.9x16.5x4.4x
Fri, 05 May 2023US$230.5bUS$53.5bUS$14.1b15.3x16.3x4.3x
Sun, 02 Apr 2023US$233.0bUS$52.7bUS$14.3b14.8x16.3x4.4x
Tue, 28 Feb 2023US$244.9bUS$52.7bUS$14.3b15.7x17.1x4.6x
Price to Earnings Ratio

17.1x


Total Market Cap: US$244.9bTotal Earnings: US$14.3bTotal Revenue: US$52.7bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Railroads Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 20.5x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are optimistic on the American Railroads industry, and appear confident in long term growth rates.
  • The industry is trading at a PE ratio of 24.2x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 20.5x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 5.0x is lower than the industry's current PS ratio of 6.0x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Railroads industry have declined 4.1% per year over the last three years.
  • Meanwhile revenues have remained mostly flat.
  • This means that although sales have remained flat, either the cost of doing business or the level of investment back into businesses has increased, which has decreased profits.

Industry Comparison

How does U.S. Railroads compare with similar industries?

US Market0.99%
Industrials1.63%
Transportation3.56%
Railroads2.04%
Trucking5.03%
Cargo Ground Transportation4.78%
Industry PEThere are no additional sub-industries under this industry.
Forecasted GrowthThere are no additional sub-industries under this industry.

Top Stock Gainers and Losers

Which companies have driven the market over the last 7 days?

CompanyLast Price7D1YValuation
UNP Union PacificUS$266.102.1%
+US$3.2b		8.4%PE22.1x
CSX CSXUS$42.313.5%
+US$2.7b		31.0%PE27.2x
NSC Norfolk SouthernUS$316.230.4%
+US$289.7m		27.6%PE24.7x

Latest News

CSX
US$42.31
CSX
7D
3.5%
1Y
31.0%

CSX: Fair Outlook Weighs New Locomotive Spend Against Rail And Trucking Risks

Narrative Update: CSX Analyst Price Target Reset The CSX analyst price target has been fine tuned, with modest upward and downward $1 moves across several firms. These are offset by a higher $43 target from JPMorgan and a $40 target from TD Cowen, as analysts factor in recent transportation sector research, updated discount rate assumptions and a slightly higher future P/E input.
FIP
US$5.94
FTAI Infrastructure
7D
-1.0%
1Y
-0.3%

FIP: Higher Revenue And Margin Expectations Will Support Future Upside Potential

Analysts have raised their price target on FTAI Infrastructure to US$10.00, reflecting updated assumptions that point to slightly higher revenue growth and profit margin expectations, along with a modestly lower future P/E multiple and discount rate. Valuation Changes Fair Value: The fair value estimate remains unchanged at US$10.00 per share.
UNP
US$266.10
Union Pacific
7D
2.1%
1Y
8.4%

UNP: Merger Scrutiny And Freight Demand Risks Will Shape Future Opportunity

Analysts have trimmed their price targets on Union Pacific by low single digits in recent weeks, generally citing mixed readthroughs from regulatory risk around the Norfolk Southern merger and freight demand, even as some models now assume slightly stronger revenue growth, higher profit margins, and a lower future P/E multiple. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Union Pacific shows a split tape, with some bullish analysts edging price targets higher and others turning more cautious as they reassess regulatory risk and freight demand assumptions.
NSC
US$316.23
Norfolk Southern
7D
0.4%
1Y
27.6%

NSC: Merger Scrutiny And Corridor Expansion Will Shape Fairly Valued Outlook

Analysts have trimmed their price targets on Norfolk Southern by about $4 per share, reflecting slightly lower fair value estimates even as they factor in marginally higher revenue growth expectations, a modestly softer profit margin outlook, and small adjustments to discount rate and future P/E assumptions following recent sector research. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Norfolk Southern clusters around two main themes, where price target cuts are balanced against prior target increases and broader views on the proposed Union Pacific tie up and the freight rail backdrop.