Stock Analysis on Net
Stock Analysis on Net
Microsoft Excel LibreOffice Calc

Norfolk Southern Corp. (NYSE:NSC)

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Analysis of Short-term (Operating) Activity Ratios
Quarterly Data

Beginner level

Activity ratios measure how efficiently a company performs day-to-day tasks, such us the collection of receivables and management of inventory.

Short-term Activity Ratios (Summary)

Norfolk Southern Corp., short-term (operating) activity ratios (quarterly data)

Microsoft Excel LibreOffice Calc
Dec 31, 2020 Sep 30, 2020 Jun 30, 2020 Mar 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Sep 30, 2019 Jun 30, 2019 Mar 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Sep 30, 2018 Jun 30, 2018 Mar 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017 Sep 30, 2017 Jun 30, 2017 Mar 31, 2017 Dec 31, 2016 Sep 30, 2016 Jun 30, 2016 Mar 31, 2016
Turnover Ratios
Inventory turnover
Receivables turnover
Payables turnover
Working capital turnover
Average No. Days
Average inventory processing period
Add: Average receivable collection period
Operating cycle
Less: Average payables payment period
Cash conversion cycle

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2021-02-04), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-10-28), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-07-29), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-04-29), 10-K (filing date: 2020-02-06), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-10-23), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-07-24), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-04-24), 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-08), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-10-24), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-07-25), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-04-25), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-05), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-10-25), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-07-26), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-04-26), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-10-26), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-07-27), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-04-22).

Short-term activity ratio Description The company
Inventory turnover An activity ratio calculated as cost of goods sold divided by inventory. Norfolk Southern Corp.’s inventory turnover ratio improved from Q2 2020 to Q3 2020 and from Q3 2020 to Q4 2020.
Receivables turnover An activity ratio equal to revenue divided by receivables. Norfolk Southern Corp.’s receivables turnover ratio deteriorated from Q2 2020 to Q3 2020 but then slightly improved from Q3 2020 to Q4 2020.
Payables turnover An activity ratio calculated as cost of goods sold divided by payables. Norfolk Southern Corp.’s payables turnover ratio decreased from Q2 2020 to Q3 2020 but then increased from Q3 2020 to Q4 2020 exceeding Q2 2020 level.
Working capital turnover An activity ratio calculated as revenue divided by working capital. Norfolk Southern Corp.’s working capital turnover ratio deteriorated from Q2 2020 to Q3 2020 but then improved from Q3 2020 to Q4 2020 exceeding Q2 2020 level.
Short-term activity ratio Description The company
Average inventory processing period An activity ratio equal to the number of days in the period divided by inventory turnover over the period. Norfolk Southern Corp.’s number of days of inventory outstanding improved from Q2 2020 to Q3 2020 and from Q3 2020 to Q4 2020.
Average receivable collection period An activity ratio equal to the number of days in the period divided by receivables turnover. Norfolk Southern Corp.’s number of days of receivables outstanding deteriorated from Q2 2020 to Q3 2020 but then slightly improved from Q3 2020 to Q4 2020.
Operating cycle Equal to average inventory processing period plus average receivables collection period.
Average payables payment period An estimate of the average number of days it takes a company to pay its suppliers; equal to the number of days in the period divided by payables turnover ratio for the period. Norfolk Southern Corp.’s number of days of payables outstanding increased from Q2 2020 to Q3 2020 but then decreased significantly from Q3 2020 to Q4 2020.
Cash conversion cycle A financial metric that measures the length of time required for a company to convert cash invested in its operations to cash received as a result of its operations; equal to average inventory processing period plus average receivables collection period minus average payables payment period. Norfolk Southern Corp.’s cash conversion cycle improved from Q2 2020 to Q3 2020 but then deteriorated significantly from Q3 2020 to Q4 2020.

Inventory Turnover

Norfolk Southern Corp., inventory turnover calculation (quarterly data)

Microsoft Excel LibreOffice Calc
Dec 31, 2020 Sep 30, 2020 Jun 30, 2020 Mar 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Sep 30, 2019 Jun 30, 2019 Mar 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Sep 30, 2018 Jun 30, 2018 Mar 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017 Sep 30, 2017 Jun 30, 2017 Mar 31, 2017 Dec 31, 2016 Sep 30, 2016 Jun 30, 2016 Mar 31, 2016
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Cost of railway operating revenues
Materials and supplies
Short-term Activity Ratio
Inventory turnover1
Benchmarks
Inventory Turnover, Competitors2
CSX Corp.
FedEx Corp.
Union Pacific Corp.

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2021-02-04), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-10-28), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-07-29), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-04-29), 10-K (filing date: 2020-02-06), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-10-23), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-07-24), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-04-24), 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-08), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-10-24), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-07-25), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-04-25), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-05), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-10-25), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-07-26), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-04-26), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-10-26), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-07-27), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-04-22).

1 Q4 2020 Calculation
Inventory turnover = (Cost of railway operating revenuesQ4 2020 + Cost of railway operating revenuesQ3 2020 + Cost of railway operating revenuesQ2 2020 + Cost of railway operating revenuesQ1 2020) ÷ Materials and supplies
= ( + + + ) ÷ =

2 Click competitor name to see calculations.

Short-term activity ratio Description The company
Inventory turnover An activity ratio calculated as cost of goods sold divided by inventory. Norfolk Southern Corp.’s inventory turnover ratio improved from Q2 2020 to Q3 2020 and from Q3 2020 to Q4 2020.

Receivables Turnover

Norfolk Southern Corp., receivables turnover calculation (quarterly data)

Microsoft Excel LibreOffice Calc
Dec 31, 2020 Sep 30, 2020 Jun 30, 2020 Mar 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Sep 30, 2019 Jun 30, 2019 Mar 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Sep 30, 2018 Jun 30, 2018 Mar 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017 Sep 30, 2017 Jun 30, 2017 Mar 31, 2017 Dec 31, 2016 Sep 30, 2016 Jun 30, 2016 Mar 31, 2016
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Railway operating revenues
Accounts receivable, net
Short-term Activity Ratio
Receivables turnover1
Benchmarks
Receivables Turnover, Competitors2
CSX Corp.
FedEx Corp.
Union Pacific Corp.
United Parcel Service Inc.

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2021-02-04), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-10-28), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-07-29), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-04-29), 10-K (filing date: 2020-02-06), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-10-23), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-07-24), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-04-24), 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-08), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-10-24), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-07-25), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-04-25), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-05), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-10-25), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-07-26), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-04-26), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-10-26), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-07-27), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-04-22).

1 Q4 2020 Calculation
Receivables turnover = (Railway operating revenuesQ4 2020 + Railway operating revenuesQ3 2020 + Railway operating revenuesQ2 2020 + Railway operating revenuesQ1 2020) ÷ Accounts receivable, net
= ( + + + ) ÷ =

2 Click competitor name to see calculations.

Short-term activity ratio Description The company
Receivables turnover An activity ratio equal to revenue divided by receivables. Norfolk Southern Corp.’s receivables turnover ratio deteriorated from Q2 2020 to Q3 2020 but then slightly improved from Q3 2020 to Q4 2020.

Payables Turnover

Norfolk Southern Corp., payables turnover calculation (quarterly data)

Microsoft Excel LibreOffice Calc
Dec 31, 2020 Sep 30, 2020 Jun 30, 2020 Mar 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Sep 30, 2019 Jun 30, 2019 Mar 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Sep 30, 2018 Jun 30, 2018 Mar 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017 Sep 30, 2017 Jun 30, 2017 Mar 31, 2017 Dec 31, 2016 Sep 30, 2016 Jun 30, 2016 Mar 31, 2016
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Cost of railway operating revenues
Accounts payable
Short-term Activity Ratio
Payables turnover1
Benchmarks
Payables Turnover, Competitors2
CSX Corp.
FedEx Corp.
United Parcel Service Inc.

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2021-02-04), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-10-28), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-07-29), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-04-29), 10-K (filing date: 2020-02-06), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-10-23), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-07-24), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-04-24), 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-08), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-10-24), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-07-25), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-04-25), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-05), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-10-25), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-07-26), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-04-26), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-10-26), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-07-27), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-04-22).

1 Q4 2020 Calculation
Payables turnover = (Cost of railway operating revenuesQ4 2020 + Cost of railway operating revenuesQ3 2020 + Cost of railway operating revenuesQ2 2020 + Cost of railway operating revenuesQ1 2020) ÷ Accounts payable
= ( + + + ) ÷ =

2 Click competitor name to see calculations.

Short-term activity ratio Description The company
Payables turnover An activity ratio calculated as cost of goods sold divided by payables. Norfolk Southern Corp.’s payables turnover ratio decreased from Q2 2020 to Q3 2020 but then increased from Q3 2020 to Q4 2020 exceeding Q2 2020 level.

Working Capital Turnover

Norfolk Southern Corp., working capital turnover calculation (quarterly data)

Microsoft Excel LibreOffice Calc
Dec 31, 2020 Sep 30, 2020 Jun 30, 2020 Mar 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Sep 30, 2019 Jun 30, 2019 Mar 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Sep 30, 2018 Jun 30, 2018 Mar 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017 Sep 30, 2017 Jun 30, 2017 Mar 31, 2017 Dec 31, 2016 Sep 30, 2016 Jun 30, 2016 Mar 31, 2016
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Current assets
Less: Current liabilities
Working capital
 
Railway operating revenues
Short-term Activity Ratio
Working capital turnover1
Benchmarks
Working Capital Turnover, Competitors2
CSX Corp.
FedEx Corp.
Union Pacific Corp.
United Parcel Service Inc.

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2021-02-04), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-10-28), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-07-29), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-04-29), 10-K (filing date: 2020-02-06), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-10-23), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-07-24), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-04-24), 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-08), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-10-24), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-07-25), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-04-25), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-05), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-10-25), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-07-26), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-04-26), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-10-26), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-07-27), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-04-22).

1 Q4 2020 Calculation
Working capital turnover = (Railway operating revenuesQ4 2020 + Railway operating revenuesQ3 2020 + Railway operating revenuesQ2 2020 + Railway operating revenuesQ1 2020) ÷ Working capital
= ( + + + ) ÷ =

2 Click competitor name to see calculations.

Short-term activity ratio Description The company
Working capital turnover An activity ratio calculated as revenue divided by working capital. Norfolk Southern Corp.’s working capital turnover ratio deteriorated from Q2 2020 to Q3 2020 but then improved from Q3 2020 to Q4 2020 exceeding Q2 2020 level.

Average Inventory Processing Period

Norfolk Southern Corp., average inventory processing period calculation (quarterly data)

Microsoft Excel LibreOffice Calc
Dec 31, 2020 Sep 30, 2020 Jun 30, 2020 Mar 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Sep 30, 2019 Jun 30, 2019 Mar 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Sep 30, 2018 Jun 30, 2018 Mar 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017 Sep 30, 2017 Jun 30, 2017 Mar 31, 2017 Dec 31, 2016 Sep 30, 2016 Jun 30, 2016 Mar 31, 2016
Selected Financial Data
Inventory turnover
Short-term Activity Ratio (no. days)
Average inventory processing period1
Benchmarks (no. days)
Average Inventory Processing Period, Competitors2
CSX Corp.
FedEx Corp.
Union Pacific Corp.

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2021-02-04), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-10-28), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-07-29), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-04-29), 10-K (filing date: 2020-02-06), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-10-23), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-07-24), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-04-24), 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-08), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-10-24), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-07-25), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-04-25), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-05), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-10-25), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-07-26), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-04-26), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-10-26), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-07-27), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-04-22).

1 Q4 2020 Calculation
Average inventory processing period = 365 ÷ Inventory turnover
= 365 ÷ =

2 Click competitor name to see calculations.

Short-term activity ratio Description The company
Average inventory processing period An activity ratio equal to the number of days in the period divided by inventory turnover over the period. Norfolk Southern Corp.’s number of days of inventory outstanding improved from Q2 2020 to Q3 2020 and from Q3 2020 to Q4 2020.

Average Receivable Collection Period

Norfolk Southern Corp., average receivable collection period calculation (quarterly data)

Microsoft Excel LibreOffice Calc
Dec 31, 2020 Sep 30, 2020 Jun 30, 2020 Mar 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Sep 30, 2019 Jun 30, 2019 Mar 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Sep 30, 2018 Jun 30, 2018 Mar 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017 Sep 30, 2017 Jun 30, 2017 Mar 31, 2017 Dec 31, 2016 Sep 30, 2016 Jun 30, 2016 Mar 31, 2016
Selected Financial Data
Receivables turnover
Short-term Activity Ratio (no. days)
Average receivable collection period1
Benchmarks (no. days)
Average Receivable Collection Period, Competitors2
CSX Corp.
FedEx Corp.
Union Pacific Corp.
United Parcel Service Inc.

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2021-02-04), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-10-28), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-07-29), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-04-29), 10-K (filing date: 2020-02-06), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-10-23), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-07-24), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-04-24), 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-08), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-10-24), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-07-25), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-04-25), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-05), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-10-25), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-07-26), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-04-26), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-10-26), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-07-27), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-04-22).

1 Q4 2020 Calculation
Average receivable collection period = 365 ÷ Receivables turnover
= 365 ÷ =

2 Click competitor name to see calculations.

Short-term activity ratio Description The company
Average receivable collection period An activity ratio equal to the number of days in the period divided by receivables turnover. Norfolk Southern Corp.’s number of days of receivables outstanding deteriorated from Q2 2020 to Q3 2020 but then slightly improved from Q3 2020 to Q4 2020.

Operating Cycle

Norfolk Southern Corp., operating cycle calculation (quarterly data)

No. days

Microsoft Excel LibreOffice Calc
Dec 31, 2020 Sep 30, 2020 Jun 30, 2020 Mar 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Sep 30, 2019 Jun 30, 2019 Mar 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Sep 30, 2018 Jun 30, 2018 Mar 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017 Sep 30, 2017 Jun 30, 2017 Mar 31, 2017 Dec 31, 2016 Sep 30, 2016 Jun 30, 2016 Mar 31, 2016
Selected Financial Data
Average inventory processing period
Average receivable collection period
Short-term Activity Ratio
Operating cycle1
Benchmarks
Operating Cycle, Competitors2
CSX Corp.
FedEx Corp.
Union Pacific Corp.

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2021-02-04), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-10-28), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-07-29), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-04-29), 10-K (filing date: 2020-02-06), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-10-23), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-07-24), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-04-24), 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-08), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-10-24), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-07-25), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-04-25), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-05), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-10-25), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-07-26), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-04-26), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-10-26), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-07-27), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-04-22).

1 Q4 2020 Calculation
Operating cycle = Average inventory processing period + Average receivable collection period
= + =

2 Click competitor name to see calculations.

Short-term activity ratio Description The company
Operating cycle Equal to average inventory processing period plus average receivables collection period.

Average Payables Payment Period

Norfolk Southern Corp., average payables payment period calculation (quarterly data)

Microsoft Excel LibreOffice Calc
Dec 31, 2020 Sep 30, 2020 Jun 30, 2020 Mar 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Sep 30, 2019 Jun 30, 2019 Mar 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Sep 30, 2018 Jun 30, 2018 Mar 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017 Sep 30, 2017 Jun 30, 2017 Mar 31, 2017 Dec 31, 2016 Sep 30, 2016 Jun 30, 2016 Mar 31, 2016
Selected Financial Data
Payables turnover
Short-term Activity Ratio (no. days)
Average payables payment period1
Benchmarks (no. days)
Average Payables Payment Period, Competitors2
CSX Corp.
FedEx Corp.
United Parcel Service Inc.

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2021-02-04), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-10-28), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-07-29), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-04-29), 10-K (filing date: 2020-02-06), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-10-23), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-07-24), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-04-24), 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-08), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-10-24), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-07-25), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-04-25), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-05), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-10-25), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-07-26), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-04-26), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-10-26), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-07-27), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-04-22).

1 Q4 2020 Calculation
Average payables payment period = 365 ÷ Payables turnover
= 365 ÷ =

2 Click competitor name to see calculations.

Short-term activity ratio Description The company
Average payables payment period An estimate of the average number of days it takes a company to pay its suppliers; equal to the number of days in the period divided by payables turnover ratio for the period. Norfolk Southern Corp.’s number of days of payables outstanding increased from Q2 2020 to Q3 2020 but then decreased significantly from Q3 2020 to Q4 2020.

Cash Conversion Cycle

Norfolk Southern Corp., cash conversion cycle calculation (quarterly data)

No. days

Microsoft Excel LibreOffice Calc
Dec 31, 2020 Sep 30, 2020 Jun 30, 2020 Mar 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Sep 30, 2019 Jun 30, 2019 Mar 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Sep 30, 2018 Jun 30, 2018 Mar 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017 Sep 30, 2017 Jun 30, 2017 Mar 31, 2017 Dec 31, 2016 Sep 30, 2016 Jun 30, 2016 Mar 31, 2016
Selected Financial Data
Average inventory processing period
Average receivable collection period
Average payables payment period
Short-term Activity Ratio
Cash conversion cycle1
Benchmarks
Cash Conversion Cycle, Competitors2
CSX Corp.
FedEx Corp.

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2021-02-04), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-10-28), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-07-29), 10-Q (filing date: 2020-04-29), 10-K (filing date: 2020-02-06), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-10-23), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-07-24), 10-Q (filing date: 2019-04-24), 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-08), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-10-24), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-07-25), 10-Q (filing date: 2018-04-25), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-05), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-10-25), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-07-26), 10-Q (filing date: 2017-04-26), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-10-26), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-07-27), 10-Q (filing date: 2016-04-22).

1 Q4 2020 Calculation
Cash conversion cycle = Average inventory processing period + Average receivable collection period – Average payables payment period
= + – =

2 Click competitor name to see calculations.

Short-term activity ratio Description The company
Cash conversion cycle A financial metric that measures the length of time required for a company to convert cash invested in its operations to cash received as a result of its operations; equal to average inventory processing period plus average receivables collection period minus average payables payment period. Norfolk Southern Corp.’s cash conversion cycle improved from Q2 2020 to Q3 2020 but then deteriorated significantly from Q3 2020 to Q4 2020.