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Norfolk Southern Corp. (NYSE:NSC)

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

Enterprise Value to FCFF (EV/FCFF)

Microsoft Excel

Free Cash Flow to The Firm (FCFF)

Norfolk Southern Corp., FCFF calculation

US$ in millions

Microsoft Excel
12 months ended: Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017
Net income 3,005 2,013 2,722 2,666 5,404
Net noncash charges 1,103 1,493 1,309 938 (2,209)
Changes in assets and liabilities affecting operations 147 131 (139) 122 58
Net cash provided by operating activities 4,255 3,637 3,892 3,726 3,253
Cash paid during the year for interest, net of amounts capitalized, net of tax1 449 459 433 381 344
Interest capitalized, net of tax2 9 11 12 13 13
Property additions (1,470) (1,494) (2,019) (1,951) (1,723)
Property sales and other transactions 159 333 377 204 202
Free cash flow to the firm (FCFF) 3,401 2,946 2,695 2,373 2,089

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).


The financial performance from 2017 through 2021 is characterized by a sustained increase in the firm's ability to generate cash available to all capital providers. A consistent upward trajectory is observed in the Free Cash Flow to the Firm (FCFF), which increased annually throughout the reporting period.

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Operating cash flows exhibited a general growth pattern, rising from 3,253 million USD in 2017 to 4,255 million USD in 2021. A temporary contraction occurred in 2020, when figures declined to 3,637 million USD, followed by a significant recovery in the subsequent year.
Free Cash Flow to the Firm (FCFF) Growth
FCFF demonstrated uninterrupted year-over-year growth, ascending from 2,089 million USD in 2017 to 3,401 million USD in 2021. This represents a steady expansion of the net cash position available after accounting for the necessary capital investments required to maintain or expand the business.
Cash Flow Divergence and Capital Allocation
A notable divergence is observed in 2020, where FCFF continued to rise despite a decline in net cash provided by operating activities. This indicates a strategic reduction in capital expenditures during that fiscal year, which buffered the impact of lower operating cash and supported the continued growth of cash available to investors.

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Interest Paid, Net of Tax

Norfolk Southern Corp., interest paid, net of tax calculation

US$ in millions

Microsoft Excel
12 months ended: Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017
Effective Income Tax Rate (EITR)
EITR1 22.50% 20.40% 22.00% 23.10% 34.90%
Interest Paid, Net of Tax
Cash paid during the year for interest, net of amounts capitalized, before tax 579 577 555 496 528
Less: Cash paid during the year for interest, net of amounts capitalized, tax2 130 118 122 115 184
Cash paid during the year for interest, net of amounts capitalized, net of tax 449 459 433 381 344
Interest Costs Capitalized, Net of Tax
Interest capitalized, before tax 11 14 16 17 20
Less: Interest capitalized, tax3 2 3 4 4 7
Interest capitalized, net of tax 9 11 12 13 13

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).

1 See details »

2 2021 Calculation
Cash paid during the year for interest, net of amounts capitalized, tax = Cash paid during the year for interest, net of amounts capitalized × EITR
= 579 × 22.50% = 130

3 2021 Calculation
Interest capitalized, tax = Interest capitalized × EITR
= 11 × 22.50% = 2


The financial trajectory between 2017 and 2021 indicates a general increase in net cash outflows for interest, coupled with a significant reduction in the effective income tax rate and a steady decline in capitalized interest expenses.

Cash Outflows for Interest
A consistent upward trend in cash paid for interest, net of tax and capitalization, is observed from 2017 to 2020. Expenditures rose from 344 million US dollars in 2017 to a peak of 459 million US dollars in 2020, representing a cumulative increase of approximately 33.4%. A slight reversal occurred in 2021, with payments decreasing to 449 million US dollars.
Interest Capitalization Patterns
Interest capitalized, net of tax, remained relatively low and exhibited a gradual downward trajectory throughout the period. Starting at 13 million US dollars in 2017 and 2018, the amount decreased incrementally to 9 million US dollars by 2021. This trend suggests a reduction in the volume of interest-bearing costs attributed to long-term asset construction or infrastructure projects.
Effective Income Tax Rate (EITR) Volatility
A substantial contraction in the effective income tax rate occurred between 2017 and 2018, dropping from 34.9% to 23.1%. Following this initial decline, the rate remained relatively stable, fluctuating within a narrow corridor between 20.4% and 22.5% through 2021. This lower tax environment impacts the net-of-tax calculation for interest expenses, as a lower EITR reduces the value of the tax shield provided by interest payments.

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Enterprise Value to FCFF Ratio, Current

Norfolk Southern Corp., current EV/FCFF calculation, comparison to benchmarks

Microsoft Excel
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Enterprise value (EV) 75,570
Free cash flow to the firm (FCFF) 3,401
Valuation Ratio
EV/FCFF 22.22
Benchmarks
EV/FCFF, Competitors1
FedEx Corp. 14.63
Uber Technologies Inc. 14.35
Union Pacific Corp. 31.09
United Airlines Holdings Inc. 12.74
United Parcel Service Inc. 19.63
EV/FCFF, Sector
Transportation 25.50
EV/FCFF, Industry
Industrials 39.87

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).

1 Click competitor name to see calculations.

If the company EV/FCFF is lower then the EV/FCFF of benchmark then company is relatively undervalued.
Otherwise, if the company EV/FCFF is higher then the EV/FCFF of benchmark then company is relatively overvalued.


Enterprise Value to FCFF Ratio, Historical

Norfolk Southern Corp., historical EV/FCFF calculation, comparison to benchmarks

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Enterprise value (EV)1 77,842 73,428 66,454 56,645 48,511
Free cash flow to the firm (FCFF)2 3,401 2,946 2,695 2,373 2,089
Valuation Ratio
EV/FCFF3 22.89 24.92 24.65 23.87 23.22
Benchmarks
EV/FCFF, Competitors4
FedEx Corp. 18.72 — — — —
Uber Technologies Inc. — — — — —
Union Pacific Corp. 26.41 — — — —
United Airlines Holdings Inc. 79.24 — — — —
United Parcel Service Inc. 16.98 — — — —
EV/FCFF, Sector
Transportation 24.82 — — — —
EV/FCFF, Industry
Industrials 28.81 — — — —

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).

1 See details »

2 See details »

3 2021 Calculation
EV/FCFF = EV ÷ FCFF
= 77,842 ÷ 3,401 = 22.89

4 Click competitor name to see calculations.


Between 2017 and 2021, a consistent upward trajectory is observed in both the enterprise value and the free cash flow to the firm. The valuation multiple remained relatively stable over the five-year period, indicating a proportional relationship between the expansion of the firm's total value and its capacity to generate cash flow.

Enterprise Value Trends
The enterprise value increased steadily every year, rising from US$ 48,511 million in 2017 to US$ 77,842 million in 2021. This represents a substantial overall growth in the total market value of the entity's operations over the analyzed period.
Free Cash Flow to the Firm (FCFF) Performance
FCFF demonstrated uninterrupted growth, climbing from US$ 2,089 million in 2017 to US$ 3,401 million in 2021. The continuous rise in FCFF suggests a strengthening ability to produce cash available for distribution to both debt and equity holders.
EV/FCFF Ratio Analysis
The EV/FCFF ratio remained within a narrow range, starting at 23.22 in 2017 and peaking at 24.92 in 2020. In 2021, the ratio decreased to 22.89, the lowest point in the five-year sequence. This decline indicates that the growth rate of free cash flow surpassed the growth rate of the enterprise value in the final year, resulting in a compression of the valuation multiple.

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