AAPL vs NSC Stock Comparison
AAPL currently leads NSC in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 63 vs 57. The clearest difference is quality, while NSC has the stronger value profile.
What is the main difference between AAPL and NSC?
AAPL leads the current stock comparison as Apple Inc., with the clearest separation coming from quality and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
Apple Inc. vs Norfolk Southern Corporation
AAPL leads
AAPL leads by 6 AIQ points, primarily on Quality and Risk Resilience, but the lead has narrowed from 17 points over 30 sessions. Wall Street currently favors NSC on target upside.
Fragile: 3 of 6 evidence groups support AAPL, its lead is narrowing, and its current signal state is conflicted.
Apple Inc.
Norfolk Southern Corporation
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors AAPL over NSC, 63 versus 57 as of Oct 22, 2026. AAPL's advantage is driven primarily by stronger quality and risk resilience, while NSC holds the stronger value profile. AAPL also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average, though analyst target upside currently favors NSC. 3 of 6 covered evidence groups favor AAPL today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. AAPL lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 17 to 6 points over 30 sessions.
Compare Apple Inc. and Norfolk Southern Corporation across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Total return with distributions reinvested, from daily closes.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000, distributions reinvested
Split-adjusted closes; each distribution is reinvested at the close on its ex-dividend date. Taxes and trading costs are not modeled.
Compare AAPL and NSC against another ticker
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AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Quality80 vs 56AAPL +24
- Risk Resilience68 vs 63AAPL +5
- Value38 vs 42NSC +4
- Momentum70 vs 71Even
3 of 6 evidence groups favor AAPL. AAPL’s edge is concentrated in quality and risk resilience; NSC keeps a meaningful value edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-10-20, compared against the prior scored session 2026-10-19.
Largest factor move: Momentum -9
New signals
- MACD Bearish Crossover — bearish, momentum, short horizon
Largest factor move: Momentum +3
New signals
- RSI Overbought — bearish, momentum, short horizon
AAPL's lead narrowed by 3 AIQ points in the latest session.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — AAPL and NSC both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
AAPL (Apple Inc.): the stronger current systematic profile, led by quality and risk resilience.
NSC (Norfolk Southern Corporation): the counter-case, on value, valuation, analyst expectations.
The AIQ Score and Wall Street therefore point in different directions on this pair.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
AAPLAAPL on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
NSCNSC on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
NSCNSC on the peer-relative Value factor, by 4 points.
Momentum
EvenThe two are level on Momentum.
Lower downside
AAPLAAPL on Risk Resilience, by 5 points.
Analyst upside
NSCNSC on implied upside to the consensus price target.
AIQ vs Wall Street
The model and the Street disagree here: AIQ favors AAPL, analyst targets favor NSC. That disagreement is the most useful thing on this page.
| Measure | AAPL | NSC | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | -3.7% | +6% | NSC has more room |
| Target dispersion | +46.6% | +25.6% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Buy | Hold | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 19 | 7 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
The two are measuring different things. The AIQ Score reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; analyst targets price forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something already priced in — it is worth resolving before acting on either.
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Dividend growth
| Dividend metric | AAPL | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| 5Y dividend CAGR | 4.99% | 7.51% |
| 2020 regular DPS | $0.808 | $3.760 |
| 2025 regular DPS | $1.030 | $5.400 |
| Years increased | 5 | 3 |
| No cut in window | Yes | Yes |
| Cohort rank | #254 | #164 |
NSC grew its split-adjusted regular dividend faster over 2020–2025 — 7.51% a year against AAPL's 4.99%. Neither company reduced its regular dividend in any year of the window.
Yield and payout ratio shown elsewhere on this page are current values, not part of the study window.
Split-adjusted regular dividends per share, 2020–2025, excluding special dividends. Research as of Sep 19, 2026.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
3 of 6 covered evidence groups favor AAPL. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | AAPL | 63 vs 57 |
| Fundamentals | Even | revenue growth -1.6% vs 15.6%; TTM ROE 137.2% vs 16.8%; gross margin 48.7% vs 53.7%; operating margin 33.2% vs 31.6% |
| Valuation | NSC | Value 38 vs 42 |
| Technicals | AAPL | Price vs 50-day 5.7% vs 1.6%; vs 200-day 15.8% vs 4% |
| Risk Resilience | AAPL | Risk Resilience 68 vs 63 |
| Analyst expectations | NSC | Target upside -3.7% vs 6% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of AAPL and NSC and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is moderate at 6 points.
- Only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader's advantage has been narrowing. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on AAPL.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Jun 21 – Oct 20AAPL lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 17 to 6 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- AAPL +6
- 63 vs 57
- 7 sessions ago
- AAPL +4
- 61 vs 57
- 30 sessions ago
- AAPL +17
- 63 vs 46
- 90 sessions ago
- NSC +3
- 51 vs 54
The lead changed hands 6 times in this window, most recently on Aug 26 when AAPL moved ahead of NSC.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
4 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted
Only AAPL
- 52-Week High Proximity — bullish, risk, long horizon (1.5%)
- Uptrend Structure Active — bullish, trend, long horizon
- MACD Bearish Crossover — bearish, momentum, short horizon
3 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted
Only NSC
- RSI Overbought — bearish, momentum, short horizon
- MACD Bullish Crossover — bullish, momentum, short horizon
Both carry 2 more signals that do not separate them: Golden Cross Active, EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish.
AAPL leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Price is up while the AIQ Score moved down 2 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price +0.43%, AIQ -2 points).
Price and the AIQ Score both moved up over the latest session (price +1.17%, AIQ +1 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1NSC closes the Quality gap — currently 24 points behind, the largest single contributor to AAPL's edge.
- 2NSC's RSI Overbought resolves — a bearish momentum rule currently active against it.
- 3AAPL's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 4 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once.
- 4The narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 11 points over 30 sessions, and a further 6-point move would eliminate AAPL's advantage entirely.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
Split| Metric | AAPL | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -1.6% | 15.6% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | 1% | 34.2% |
| Gross margin | 48.7% | 53.7% |
| Operating margin | 33.2% | 31.6% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 137.2% | 16.8% |
| Debt to equity | 0.78 | 1.02 |
Performance
AAPL leads 4 of 6 windows| Metric | AAPL | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | -0.5% | 1.4% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | -0.1% | 3.7% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | 4.2% | -1.6% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 27.6% | 7.7% |
| Year to date | 24.9% | 12.8% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 37.2% | 12.9% |
Technicals
AAPL has the stronger structure| Metric | AAPL | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 60.5 | 75.8 |
| ADX (14) | 17.9 | 26.3 |
| Price vs 50-day | 5.7% | 1.6% |
| Price vs 200-day | 15.8% | 4% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 16.4% | 13% |
Risk
AAPL is the more resilient| Metric | AAPL | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 0.62 | 0.19 |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.18 | 0.48 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.6 | 0.74 |
| Max drawdown | -13.8% | -12.5% |
| Current drawdown | -1.1% | -7.8% |
| Annualized volatility | 24.4% | 20.7% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -2% | -1.9% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, AAPL or NSC?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, AAPL is the stronger of the two as of Oct 22, 2026, scoring 63 against NSC's 57. The edge comes from quality and risk resilience. NSC is not without a case — it holds the better value profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is AAPL or NSC the better buy right now?
AAPL carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 22, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor AAPL over NSC?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. AAPL leads Quality by 24 points; AAPL leads Risk Resilience by 5 points; NSC leads Value by 4 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, AAPL or NSC?
Analyst price targets imply -3.7% upside for AAPL and +6% for NSC, so the Street currently favors NSC. That points the opposite way to the AIQ Score, which favors AAPL. The two are measuring different things: the model reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; the Street is pricing forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something the analysts have already priced — it is the single most useful row on this page to investigate. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, AAPL or NSC?
NSC is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. NSC on the peer-relative Value factor, by 4 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, AAPL or NSC?
NSC on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, AAPL or NSC?
The two are level on Momentum. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, AAPL or NSC?
AAPL is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. AAPL on Risk Resilience, by 5 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is AAPL more profitable than NSC?
The profitability evidence is mixed: gross margin 48.7% vs 53.7%; operating margin 33.2% vs 31.6%; ttm roe 137.2% vs 16.8%. AAPL leads on two measures and NSC on one measure, and there is no single profitability composite that resolves the split — which of the two reads as "more profitable" depends on whether you weight pricing power or operating leverage.
Is AAPL's lead over NSC getting stronger or weaker?
AAPL lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 17 to 6 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-06-21 and 2026-10-20. The lead has changed hands 6 times in that window, most recently on 2026-08-26, when AAPL moved ahead of NSC.
What would change the AAPL vs NSC verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: NSC closes the Quality gap — currently 24 points behind, the largest single contributor to AAPL's edge; NSC's RSI Overbought resolves — a bearish momentum rule currently active against it; AAPL's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 4 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once; the narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 11 points over 30 sessions, and a further 6-point move would eliminate AAPL's advantage entirely.
What do the current signals say about AAPL and NSC?
AAPL: 4 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted. NSC: 3 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on AAPL is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On NSC it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare AAPL and NSC with others
Continue your research
This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.