CSX (CSX): analysis in plain words
Is CSX cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
CSX (CSX) is listed on the Nasdaq and we classify it in industrials. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against CSX according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
CSX (CSX) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $52.05 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 27.1x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +12.0% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 24.0% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 2.5x | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 1.10% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $96.4 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The CSX figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any CSX figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How CSX makes money
CSX runs a freight railroad network across the eastern United States. It earns revenue hauling chemicals, coal, auto parts, agricultural products, minerals and intermodal containers that move between trains, trucks and ships. Customers include manufacturers, utilities, ports and logistics companies.
Over the last 12 months, CSX brought in revenue of $14.9 billion. For every 100 it sells, CSX keeps 47.8 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 39.3 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 21,900 full-time employees, that is about $682,000 of revenue per employee.
CSX against its sector
To know whether a CSX figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares CSX with the median of the 20 industrials companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | CSX | industrials median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 27.1x | 27.3x (20) |
| Revenue growth | +12.0% | +9.8% (20) |
| Net margin | 24.0% | 13.0% (20) |
| Dividend yield | 1.10% | 1.60% (20) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 2.5x | 2.1x (20) |
In short, against the typical industrials company, CSX grows faster, earns a wider margin and pays a lower dividend yield. By size, CSX ranks number 9 of 15 industrials companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for CSX
What works in favour of CSX, according to its figures as of November 4, 2026:
- CSX keeps 24.0 of every 100 it sells as net profit, against 13.0 for the median industrials company: a margin like that leaves money to invest, buy back shares or pay dividends.
- CSX earns 26.4% a year on its shareholders' money (return on equity).
- Analysts expect CSX earnings to rise: its P/E on the next 12 months of estimated earnings is 22.2x, below the current 27.1x.
The main risk for CSX
The CSX figures as of November 4, 2026 show no clear red flag (no heavy debt, no losses, no falling sales). Its main risk is the one built into its business: the economic cycle: when industry and trade slow, its orders fall.
Frequently asked questions about CSX
Is it a good time to buy CSX stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell CSX, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, CSX stock trades at $52.05, 3% below its 52-week high ($53.60) and 55% above its low ($33.63). Its P/E is 27.1x against a industrials median of 27.3x, and 22.2x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With CSX, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does CSX pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, CSX pays $0.56 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 1.10%. It uses 29% of its profit to pay it, which leaves room to keep paying it if profit dips. Its average dividend yield over the last five years is 1.29%. The industrials median on Fintols is 1.60%.
Is CSX stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, CSX trades at 27.1x its last 12 months of earnings: in line with the industrials median (27.3x). Including its debt, CSX is valued at 15.6x its EBITDA (EV/EBITDA). A high P/E alone does not make CSX expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are CSX's competitors?
On Fintols we compare CSX with Waste Management, Norfolk Southern and Siemens, which are also in industrials. As of November 4, 2026, Waste Management is worth $94.8 billion and trades on a P/E of 31.3; Norfolk Southern is worth $77.3 billion and trades on a P/E of 28.8; Siemens is worth €210.7 billion and trades on a P/E of 27.6. Each has a side-by-side comparison with CSX below.
CSX competitors
- Waste Management (WM) analysis · CSX vs Waste Management comparison
- Norfolk Southern (NSC) analysis · CSX vs Norfolk Southern comparison
- Siemens (SIE.DE) analysis · CSX vs Siemens comparison
To understand CSX better
- DCF and WACC Explained: A Practical Valuation Guide
- P/E Ratio and EPS Explained: How to Read Them Without Traps
More companies like CSX: industrials stocks and S&P 500 companies. Open the full CSX analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about CSX, not investment advice.