Trailing Dividend / Share
$5.40
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) Dividend History
Income profile from 1982 to 2026 with payout safety and yield-on-cost trend
Dividend Yield
1.7%
Payout Ratio
42.3%
Sustainable
Dividend Streak
24 years
NSC Dividend Income Check
Safety
42.3% payout ratio with sustainable safety profile.
Consistency
24 straight years of dividend increases.
Income Trend
Yield on cost is 2.3% and trend is rising.
NSC Dividend Scorecard
Yield & Income
Dividend Yield1.7%
Trailing DPS$5.40
FrequencySemi-Annual
Payments / 12M4
Payout Safety
Earnings Payout42.3%
Earnings SafetySustainable
FCF Payout28.9%
FCF SafetyWell Covered
Piotroski F-Score7/9
Growth
Growth Streak24 years
3Y CAGR2.9%
5Y CAGR7.5%
Yield on Cost (5Y)2.3%
YOC Trendrising
Total Returns
Buyback Yield0.8%
Total Shareholder Yield2.5%
1Y Total Return44.3%
5Y Total Return16.7%
Div Contribution (5Y)8.5%
Estimated $10K growth (return + dividends):
5Y ago$11,66610Y ago$40,10920Y ago$66,245
Uses precomputed total return metrics from screening data (not lot-by-lot dividend reinvestment transactions). Different time windows can produce different outcomes depending on market regime and entry point.
NSC Income Growth Story
Dividend per share and yield on cost over time (45 years of payments)
NSC Dividend Safety Story
EPS is the container — dividend is what's drawn out
Dividend Analysis
Payout Safety
Norfolk Southern Corporation distributes 42.3% of earnings as dividends (Sustainable). When measured against free cash flow—a stricter test—the payout ratio stands at 28.9%, rated "Well Covered".
Piotroski F-Score: 7/9 — strong financial health.
Growth Track Record
NSC has raised its dividend for 24 consecutive years, with a 3-year CAGR of 2.9% and 5-year CAGR of 7.5%.
Total Shareholder Returns
Beyond cash dividends, NSC returns capital through share repurchases. The combined picture: 1.7% dividend yield, 0.8% buyback yield, 2.5% total shareholder yield.
Income Trend & Total Return
Yield on cost (5-year basis) has reached 2.3% and is currently rising. The 5-year total return is 16.7%, with dividends contributing 8.5% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $40,109 today.
NSC Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Semi-Annual
TTM Total$26.04
Avg/Payment$1.3020
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2026Latest | $1.3500 | — | 1.70% | May 20, 2026 |
| Feb 6, 2026 | $1.3500 | — | 1.76% | Feb 20, 2026 |
| Nov 7, 2025 | $1.3500 | — | 1.90% | Nov 20, 2025 |
| Aug 1, 2025 | $1.3500 | — | 1.96% | Aug 20, 2025 |
| May 2, 2025 | $1.3500 | — | 2.41% | May 20, 2025 |
| Feb 7, 2025 | $1.3500 | — | 2.17% | Feb 20, 2025 |
| Nov 1, 2024 | $1.3500 | — | 2.16% | Nov 20, 2024 |
| Aug 2, 2024 | $1.3500 | — | 2.22% | Aug 20, 2024 |
NSC Dividend vs Peers
Comparable companies in the same industry
#4 yield in peer group
Div Yield
1.7%
#4 of 8
Safety
Sustainable
42.3% payout
Streak
24Y
7.5% 5Y CAGR
Total Shareholder
2.5%
#7 of 8
| Company | Mkt Cap | Yield | Payout | Streak | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSCNorfolk Southern Cor… | $70.4B | 1.7% | 42.3% | 24 | Sustainable |
 CSXCSX Corporation | $82.6B | 1.2% | 33.6% | 21 | Sustainable |
3rd  UNPUnion Pacific Corpor… | $157.2B | 2.1% | 45.3% | 9 | Sustainable |
 CPCanadian Pacific Kan… | $76.5B | 0.7% | 19.2% | 2 | Sustainable |
 WABWestinghouse Air Bra… | $45.1B | 0.4% | 14.8% | 6 | Sustainable |
2nd  TRNTrinity Industries, … | $2.9B | 3.2% | 39.0% | 15 | Sustainable |
1st  UPSUnited Parcel Servic… | $85.1B | 6.3% | 96.9% | 16 | At Risk |
 FDXFedEx Corporation | $88.4B | 1.5% | 32.7% | 4 | Sustainable |
NSC Annual Dividend History (1982–2026)
45 years of dividend data
GrowthDecline
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $2.70 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1.2% |
| 2025 | $5.40 | 0.0% | 4 | $12.75 | 42.4% | 2.36x | 2.3% |
| 2024 | $5.40 | 0.0% | 4 | $11.57 | 46.7% | 2.14x | 2.3% |
| 2023 | $5.40 | 8.9% | 4 | $8.02 | 67.3% | 1.49x | 2.3% |
| 2022 | $4.96 | 19.2% | 4 | $13.88 | 35.7% | 2.80x | 2.1% |
| 2021 | $4.16 | 10.6% | 4 | $12.11 | 34.4% | 2.91x | 1.8% |
| 2020 | $3.76 | 4.4% | 4 | $7.84 | 48.0% | 2.09x | 1.6% |
| 2019 | $3.60 | 18.4% | 4 | $10.25 | 35.1% | 2.85x | 1.5% |
| 2018 | $3.04 | 24.6% | 4 | $9.51 | 32.0% | 3.13x | 1.3% |
| 2017 | $2.44 | 3.4% | 4 | $18.61 | 13.1% | 7.63x | 1.0% |
Full NSC Stock Analysis
Analyst consensus, bull case, AI-generated risk factors, and peer comparison — all in one place.
See NSC's True Return
Price is only half the story. See total return with reinvested dividends.
Launch CalculatorIs NSC Undervalued?
DCF intrinsic value, peer multiples, and analyst estimates — see what the stock is really worth.
View ValuationCompare NSC vs SPIR
Side-by-side business, growth, and profitability comparison vs Spire Global, Inc..
Start ComparisonNSC — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying NSC stock.
How much dividend does NSC pay per share?
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) pays a trailing 12-month dividend of $5.40 per share, with a current dividend yield of +1.7%. Payments are made Semi-Annual.
When is NSC's next ex-dividend date?
NSC's most recent ex-dividend date is N/A. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive the next payment. NSC typically pays dividends Semi-Annual.
Is NSC's dividend safe?
NSC's dividend safety is rated "Sustainable" based on an earnings payout ratio of +42.3% and FCF payout ratio of +28.9%. With 24 consecutive years of dividend growth, the track record supports sustainability.
Is NSC a Dividend Achiever?
Yes, Norfolk Southern Corporation is classified as a Dividend Achiever with 24 consecutive years of dividend increases. The 5-year dividend CAGR is +7.5%, demonstrating above-inflation dividend growth.
How often does NSC pay dividends?
Norfolk Southern Corporation pays dividends Semi-Annual. The trailing 12-month total is $5.40 per share. Dividend data on this page covers 44+ years from 1982 to 2026.
How much would $10,000 invested in NSC grow with dividend reinvestment?
With dividends reinvested (DRIP), $10,000 invested in NSC five years ago would be worth approximately $11,666 today. This includes both price appreciation and compounded dividend reinvestment. Use the DRIP calculator above for other time periods.
What is NSC's yield on cost for long-term holders?
NSC's yield on cost — the current dividend divided by the original purchase price — is +2.3% for a 5-year holding period. This means long-term holders earn a higher effective yield than today's +1.7% market yield, thanks to consistent dividend growth.