Equity

Retained Earnings

Norfolk Southern Retained Earnings increased by 1.8% to $13.48B in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 9.6%, from $12.30B to $13.48B. Over 5 years (FY 2020 to FY 2025), Retained Earnings shows relatively stable performance with a 0.5% CAGR. This is a positive signal — higher values indicate stronger performance for this metric.

Analysis

StatementBalance Sheet Statement
SectionEquity
CategoryProfitability
SignalHigher is better
VolatilityStable
First reportedQ4 2014
Last reportedQ1 2026Apr 24, 2026

How to read this metric

An increase signals strong historical profitability and reinvestment, while a decrease may indicate losses or significant dividend payouts.

Detailed definition

This represents the cumulative net income earned by the company since its inception, minus any dividends paid to shareho...

Peer comparison

A key metric for all established companies; growth rates are compared against peers to gauge long-term success.

Metric ID: retained_earnings

Historical Data

20 periods
 Q2 '21Q3 '21Q4 '21Q1 '22Q2 '22Q3 '22Q4 '22Q1 '23Q2 '23Q3 '23Q4 '23Q1 '24Q2 '24Q3 '24Q4 '24Q1 '25Q2 '25Q3 '25Q4 '25Q1 '26
Value$12.41B$11.99B$11.59B$11.41B$11.12B$10.99B$10.70B$10.70B$10.61B$10.59B$10.70B$10.44B$10.87B$11.67B$12.09B$12.30B$12.56B$12.89B$13.24B$13.48B
QoQ Change-3.4%-3.4%-1.5%-2.6%-1.2%-2.6%+0.0%-0.8%-0.2%+1.0%-2.4%+4.1%+7.3%+3.7%+1.7%+2.2%+2.6%+2.6%+1.8%
YoY Change-10.4%-8.4%-7.7%-6.3%-4.5%-3.6%-0.0%-2.4%+2.5%+10.2%+13.1%+17.7%+15.5%+10.5%+9.4%+9.6%
Range$10.44B$13.48B
CAGR+1.8%
Avg YoY Growth+2.8%
Median YoY Growth+1.2%
Current Streak8 quarters growth

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Norfolk Southern's retained earnings?
Norfolk Southern (NSC) reported retained earnings of $13.48B in Q1 2026.
How has Norfolk Southern's retained earnings changed year-over-year?
Norfolk Southern's retained earnings increased by 9.6% year-over-year, from $12.30B to $13.48B.
What is the long-term trend for Norfolk Southern's retained earnings?
Over 5 years (2020 to 2025), Norfolk Southern's retained earnings has grown at a 0.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $12.88B to $13.24B.
What does retained earnings mean?
The total accumulated profits the company has kept and reinvested rather than paying out as dividends.