Stock Analysis on Net

Norfolk Southern Corp. (NYSE:NSC)

This company has been moved to the archive! The financial data has not been updated since April 27, 2022.

Analysis of Property, Plant and Equipment

Microsoft Excel

Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure

Norfolk Southern Corp., balance sheet: property, plant and equipment

US$ in millions

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017
Land 2,453 2,394 2,385 2,337 2,342
Rail and other track material 7,330 7,153 7,024 6,888 6,730
Ties 5,779 5,685 5,536 5,346 5,181
Ballast 3,041 2,973 2,868 2,759 2,654
Construction in process 339 297 360 442 447
Other roadway 14,111 14,320 14,261 14,072 13,636
Roadway 30,600 30,428 30,049 29,507 28,648
Locomotives 5,695 5,478 5,973 5,870 5,658
Freight cars 2,701 2,780 2,988 3,183 3,256
Computers and software 893 732 732 623 610
Construction in process 164 333 291 437 247
Other equipment 1,088 1,094 1,082 1,071 1,004
Equipment 10,541 10,417 11,066 11,184 10,775
Other property 90 91 96 437 474
Properties, cost 43,684 43,330 43,596 43,465 42,239
Accumulated depreciation (12,031) (11,985) (11,982) (12,374) (11,909)
Properties, net book value 31,653 31,345 31,614 31,091 30,330

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31).

Item Description The company
Properties, cost Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. Norfolk Southern Corp. properties, cost decreased from 2019 to 2020 but then increased from 2020 to 2021 exceeding 2019 level.
Properties, net book value Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. Norfolk Southern Corp. properties, net book value decreased from 2019 to 2020 but then increased from 2020 to 2021 exceeding 2019 level.

Asset Age Ratios (Summary)

Norfolk Southern Corp., asset age ratios

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017
Average age ratio 29.18% 29.28% 29.07% 30.09% 29.85%
Estimated total useful life (years) 35 35 36 37 38
Estimated age, time elapsed since purchase (years) 10 10 11 11 11
Estimated remaining life (years) 25 25 26 26 26

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31).

Asset age ratio Description The company
Average age ratio As long as straight-line depreciation is used, this is an accurate estimate of asset age as a percentage of depreciable life. The relative age is a useful measure of whether the company fixed asset base is old or new. Newer assets are likely to be more efficient. Norfolk Southern Corp. average age ratio of depreciable property, plant and equipment deteriorated from 2019 to 2020 but then slightly improved from 2020 to 2021.
Estimated total useful life Over longer time periods, this ratio is a useful measure of company depreciation policy and can be used for comparisons with competitors. Norfolk Southern Corp. estimated total useful life of depreciable property, plant and equipment decreased from 2019 to 2020 and from 2020 to 2021.
Estimated time elapsed since purchase The approximate age in years of a company fixed assets. Useful for comparison purposes. Norfolk Southern Corp. estimated time elapsed since purchase of depreciable property, plant and equipment improved from 2019 to 2020 and from 2020 to 2021.
Estimated remaining life Norfolk Southern Corp. estimated remaining life of depreciable property, plant and equipment decreased from 2019 to 2020 and from 2020 to 2021.

Average Age

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Accumulated depreciation 12,031 11,985 11,982 12,374 11,909
Properties, cost 43,684 43,330 43,596 43,465 42,239
Land 2,453 2,394 2,385 2,337 2,342
Asset Age Ratio
Average age1 29.18% 29.28% 29.07% 30.09% 29.85%

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31).

2021 Calculations

1 Average age = 100 × Accumulated depreciation ÷ (Properties, cost – Land)
= 100 × 12,031 ÷ (43,6842,453) = 29.18%

Asset age ratio Description The company
Average age As long as straight-line depreciation is used, this is an accurate estimate of asset age as a percentage of depreciable life. The relative age is a useful measure of whether the company fixed asset base is old or new. Newer assets are likely to be more efficient. Norfolk Southern Corp. average age ratio of depreciable property, plant and equipment deteriorated from 2019 to 2020 but then slightly improved from 2020 to 2021.

Estimated Total Useful Life

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Properties, cost 43,684 43,330 43,596 43,465 42,239
Land 2,453 2,394 2,385 2,337 2,342
Depreciation 1,181 1,154 1,139 1,104 1,059
Asset Age Ratio (Years)
Estimated total useful life1 35 35 36 37 38

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31).

2021 Calculations

1 Estimated total useful life = (Properties, cost – Land) ÷ Depreciation
= (43,6842,453) ÷ 1,181 = 35

Asset age ratio Description The company
Estimated total useful life Over longer time periods, this ratio is a useful measure of company depreciation policy and can be used for comparisons with competitors. Norfolk Southern Corp. estimated total useful life of depreciable property, plant and equipment decreased from 2019 to 2020 and from 2020 to 2021.

Estimated Age, Time Elapsed since Purchase

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Accumulated depreciation 12,031 11,985 11,982 12,374 11,909
Depreciation 1,181 1,154 1,139 1,104 1,059
Asset Age Ratio (Years)
Time elapsed since purchase1 10 10 11 11 11

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31).

2021 Calculations

1 Time elapsed since purchase = Accumulated depreciation ÷ Depreciation
= 12,031 ÷ 1,181 = 10

Asset age ratio Description The company
Estimated time elapsed since purchase The approximate age in years of a company fixed assets. Useful for comparison purposes. Norfolk Southern Corp. estimated time elapsed since purchase of depreciable property, plant and equipment improved from 2019 to 2020 and from 2020 to 2021.

Estimated Remaining Life

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Properties, net book value 31,653 31,345 31,614 31,091 30,330
Land 2,453 2,394 2,385 2,337 2,342
Depreciation 1,181 1,154 1,139 1,104 1,059
Asset Age Ratio (Years)
Estimated remaining life1 25 25 26 26 26

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31).

2021 Calculations

1 Estimated remaining life = (Properties, net book value – Land) ÷ Depreciation
= (31,6532,453) ÷ 1,181 = 25

Asset age ratio Description The company
Estimated remaining life Norfolk Southern Corp. estimated remaining life of depreciable property, plant and equipment decreased from 2019 to 2020 and from 2020 to 2021.