Investing IdeasBrowse All StocksMarkets
Have your own idea? Try our Stock Screener
Header cover image

U.S. Railroads Industry Analysis

UpdatedAug 22, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies5
  • 7D4.3%
  • 3M14.1%
  • 1Y35.6%
  • YTDn/a

The Railroads industry is up 2.0% in the last week, with Union Pacific up 4.9%. During this same period, the FTAI Infrastructure underperformed, falling 15%. This takes the industry's 12 month performance to a gain of 33%. Looking forward, earnings are forecast to grow by 8.5% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Sat, 22 Aug 2026US$354.4bUS$53.1bUS$12.6b29.6x28.2x6.7x
Mon, 20 Jul 2026US$350.3bUS$51.6bUS$12.4b28.6x28.2x6.8x
Wed, 17 Jun 2026US$316.1bUS$51.6bUS$12.4b26.2x25.5x6.1x
Fri, 15 May 2026US$309.9bUS$51.6bUS$12.4b26.7x25x6x
Sun, 12 Apr 2026US$294.5bUS$51.3bUS$12.6b23.2x23.3x5.7x
Tue, 10 Mar 2026US$293.7bUS$51.3bUS$12.6b23.7x23.2x5.7x
Thu, 05 Feb 2026US$285.1bUS$51.2bUS$12.6b24x22.6x5.6x
Sat, 03 Jan 2026US$270.0bUS$51.3bUS$12.6b21.8x21.4x5.3x
Mon, 01 Dec 2025US$269.4bUS$51.3bUS$12.6b22.1x21.3x5.2x
Wed, 29 Oct 2025US$260.3bUS$51.3bUS$12.8b21.3x20.4x5.1x
Fri, 26 Sep 2025US$266.0bUS$51.1bUS$13.2b19.8x20.1x5.2x
Sun, 24 Aug 2025US$264.1bUS$51.1bUS$13.2b19.5x20x5.2x
Tue, 22 Jul 2025US$262.1bUS$51.0bUS$13.2b19.9x19.9x5.1x
Thu, 19 Jun 2025US$249.3bUS$51.0bUS$13.2b18.7x19x4.9x
Sat, 17 May 2025US$252.3bUS$51.0bUS$13.2b18.2x19.2x4.9x
Mon, 14 Apr 2025US$235.0bUS$51.2bUS$12.5b18.9x18.7x4.6x
Wed, 12 Mar 2025US$262.8bUS$51.2bUS$12.5b20.1x21x5.1x
Fri, 07 Feb 2025US$269.6bUS$51.2bUS$12.6b21.7x21.3x5.3x
Sun, 05 Jan 2025US$256.9bUS$51.5bUS$12.5b21.1x20.5x5x
Tue, 03 Dec 2024US$282.2bUS$51.5bUS$12.5b22x22.6x5.5x
Thu, 31 Oct 2024US$262.8bUS$51.5bUS$12.5b21.2x21x5.1x
Sat, 28 Sep 2024US$270.1bUS$51.2bUS$11.7b22.9x23.1x5.3x
Mon, 26 Aug 2024US$271.1bUS$51.2bUS$11.7b23.2x23.2x5.3x
Wed, 24 Jul 2024US$268.4bUS$51.1bUS$11.2b22.9x23.9x5.3x
Fri, 21 Jun 2024US$251.4bUS$51.1bUS$11.2b21.5x22.4x4.9x
Sun, 19 May 2024US$268.1bUS$51.1bUS$11.2b23.4x23.9x5.2x
Tue, 16 Apr 2024US$268.4bUS$51.3bUS$11.7b22.4x22.9x5.2x
Thu, 14 Mar 2024US$286.8bUS$51.3bUS$11.7b23.8x24.4x5.6x
Sat, 10 Feb 2024US$283.0bUS$51.2bUS$11.7b23.8x24.1x5.5x
Mon, 08 Jan 2024US$266.7bUS$51.5bUS$12.1b23x22x5.2x
Wed, 06 Dec 2023US$261.0bUS$51.5bUS$12.1b22.2x21.6x5.1x
Fri, 03 Nov 2023US$228.3bUS$51.5bUS$12.1b20.2x18.9x4.4x
Sun, 01 Oct 2023US$230.8bUS$52.8bUS$13.2b17.4x17.5x4.4x
Tue, 29 Aug 2023US$246.8bUS$52.8bUS$13.2b18.6x18.7x4.7x
Price to Earnings Ratio

18.7x


Total Market Cap: US$246.8bTotal Earnings: US$13.2bTotal Revenue: US$52.8bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Railroads Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 21.9x202420252026
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 27.9x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 21.9x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 5.3x is lower than the industry's current PS ratio of 6.6x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • Both revenue and earnings for companies in the Railroads industry have remained mostly flat over the last three years.
  • This means that sales and the cost of doing business have remained relatively consistent over this period and subsequently, so have profits.

Industry Comparison

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

US Market-1.53%
Industrials-3.83%
Transportation2.02%
Railroads4.30%
Trucking2.44%
Cargo Ground Transportation-2.93%
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$308.054.9%
+US$8.5b		35.2%PE25x
NSC Norfolk SouthernUS$350.724.9%
+US$3.7b		23.2%PE29.9x
CSX CSXUS$51.592.9%
+US$2.6b		49.2%PE29.6x

Latest News

CSX
US$51.59
CSX
7D
2.9%
1Y
49.2%
Narrative Update • Aug 18

CSX: Intermodal Strength And Capacity Gains Will Support Future Earnings Power

The analyst price target for CSX is raised by $2 to $60, reflecting analysts' emphasis on recent Q2 earnings strength, broad-based volume and pricing support, and updated estimates that point to slightly higher margins and a modestly higher future P/E of 29.2x in the valuation framework. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research skews constructive on CSX, with a series of higher price targets and rating upgrades clustering around the latest Q2 report.
FIP
US$3.82
FTAI Infrastructure
7D
-15.3%
1Y
-28.2%
Seeking Alpha • Aug 10

FTAI Infrastructure: The $1.6 Billion Claim Most Models Leave Out

Summary FTAI Infrastructure (FIP) is rated Hold with a bearish lean due to a capital structure that heavily favors preferred holders and lenders over common equity. FIP's reported Adjusted EBITDA is materially overstated by non-recurring gains; the clean FY2025 figure is $232M, not $361M, significantly impacting valuation multiples. Preferred stock, accruing at 10% and rising, should be treated as debt at its $1.4B redemption value, which drastically reduces implied equity value. The expiration of US Steel’s minimum revenue guarantee and near-term blast furnace outages pose downside risk to FIP’s core rail revenue and near-term targets. Read the full article on Seeking Alpha
UNP
US$308.05
Union Pacific
7D
4.9%
1Y
35.2%
NSC
US$350.72
Norfolk Southern
7D
4.9%
1Y
23.2%
Narrative Update • Jul 30

NSC: Tighter Trucking Capacity And Merger Progress Will Shape Forward Appeal

Analysts have raised the Norfolk Southern fair value estimate from $341.72 to $363.72. This change reflects higher price targets across the Street that are grounded in recent earnings beats, firmer profit margins, and a supportive revenue backdrop.