MOS vs UNP vs CSX vs NTR vs NSC

For growth investors, Nutrien Ltd.

(NTR) is the stronger pick with 5. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 1% for CSX Corporation (CSX). The Mosaic Company (MOS) offers the better valuation at 5. 9x trailing P/E (15. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) a "Buy" — based on 47 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, The Mosaic Company (MOS) is the cheapest at 5.

9x versus CSX Corporation at 28. 9x. On forward P/E, Nutrien Ltd. is actually cheaper at 12. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Nutrien Ltd. wins at 0. 29x versus CSX Corporation's 4. 57x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, CSX Corporation (CSX) delivered a total return of +35.

9%, compared to -27. 9% for The Mosaic Company (MOS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CSX returned +459. 3% versus MOS's +14. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Nutrien Ltd.

(NTR) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 07β versus CSX Corporation's 0. 77β — meaning CSX is approximately -1160% more volatile than NTR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The Mosaic Company (MOS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 6% versus 172% for Union Pacific Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Nutrien Ltd.

(NTR) is pulling ahead at 5. 3% versus -3. 1% for CSX Corporation (CSX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Mosaic Company grew EPS 605. 5% year-over-year, compared to -14. 0% for CSX Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, UNP leads at -0. 5% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) is the more profitable company, earning 29.

1% net margin versus 8. 4% for Nutrien Ltd. — meaning it keeps 29. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UNP leads at 40. 1% versus 9. 9% for MOS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UNP leads at 59. 4%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 29x versus CSX Corporation's 4. 57x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) trades at 12. 0x forward P/E versus 25. 9x for Norfolk Southern Corporation — 13. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MOS: 36. 4% to $31. 25.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

The Mosaic Company (MOS) offers the highest yield at 4. 2%, versus 1. 2% for CSX Corporation (CSX).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Nutrien Ltd.

(NTR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 07), 3. 2% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NTR: +54. 0%, MOS: +14. 9%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (MOS (Basic Materials) and UNP (Industrials) and CSX (Industrials) and NTR (Basic Materials) and NSC (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: MOS is a small-cap deep-value stock; UNP is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; CSX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; NTR is a mid-cap deep-value stock; NSC is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.