CSX Corporation (CSX), Norfolk Southern Corp. (NSC): Profits Flow From Southeast Logistics Hubs

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Which has the hotter ride, trains, or trucks?

Metrics CSX Norfolk Southern J.B. Hunt Transport Old Dominion
P/E ratio 14.44 14.41 28.86 20.68
Annualized dividend $0.56 $2.00 $0.60 N/A
Current yield 2.14% 2.49% 0.80% N/A

Given the above metrics culled from NASDAQ, CSX and Norfolk Southern should be the preferred choices among the quartet from the U.S. Southeast logistics hotbed. Norfolk Southern has gathered enough steam, in fact, that it hit its 52-week high of $81 just this May 21. Profit-taking in ensuing days may provide an opportune time to take a position on this dividend aristocrat which has rewarded common stock shareholders with payouts for 123 successive quarters.

To wrap it up, keeping tab on investing opportunities in logistics companies in the Southeast can yield rewards. This region has a captive market projected to grow to half of the country’s total headcount in the near future. Additionally, the resurgent U.S. economy is a bull factor that can manifest stronger in the Southeast which has the inside track on two strategic ports closest to the Panama Canal — the Port of Miami and Port Manatee. Increased cargo traffic in and out of the country via these ports can expected with the completion of widening and deepening of this waterway in 2014.

The article Profits Flow From Southeast Logistics Hubs originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Arturo Cuevas.

Arturo is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network — entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.

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