NDSN vs NSC: Correlation
Measured on weekly returns over the past three years, Nordson Corporation (NDSN) and Norfolk Southern (NSC) carry a correlation of 0.55, a moderate link.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are NDSN and NSC?
Over the past 3 years, NDSN and NSC moved with a correlation of 0.55, which is moderate. The past 12 months show a weaker link (0.32) than the 3-year average (0.55). Over 5 years the correlation is 0.54, and the annualized covariance of weekly returns is 296.2 %².
By 3-year correlation, NSC places #23 of the 39 assets tracked against NDSN. Correlation aside, the last 12 months split them widely, with NDSN ahead by 18.5 points (+48.5% versus +30.0%). The relationship is regime-dependent: the rolling one-year correlation swung between 0.27 and 0.77 over the past three years, so this pair behaves very differently depending on the market environment.
How is this computed?
Pearson correlation on weekly returns: ρ(A,B) = cov(rA, rB) / (σA · σB), over windows of 52, 156 and 260 weeks. Covariance is annualized (×52) and expressed in %². Full definitions on the methodology page.
NDSN vs NSC: side by side
| NDSN (Nordson Corporation) | NSC (Norfolk Southern) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +48.5% | +30.0% |
| 5-year return | +46.5% | +49.6% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 24.7% | 22.0% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.97 | 0.69 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -39.1% | -25.1% |
| Market cap | $18.4B | $78.1B |
| P/E (trailing) | 33.5 | 30.1 |
| Dividend yield | 0.98% | 1.53% |
| Sector / category | Industrials | Industrials |
Year-by-year returns
| Year | NDSN | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -5.9% | -15.6% |
| 2023 | +12.4% | -1.6% |
| 2024 | -20.1% | +1.6% |
| 2025 | +17.0% | +25.6% |
| 2026 | +38.4% | +22.0% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are NDSN and NSC good diversifiers for each other?
To a limited degree. At 0.55 the two still catch most of the same waves, so the pair smooths returns a little without insulating either from a shared selloff.
FAQ
What is the correlation between NDSN and NSC?
Using weekly returns as of 2026-08-27: 0.55 over 3 years, with 0.32 over the last year and 0.54 over 5 years.
Is NSC a good diversifier for NDSN?
To a limited degree. At 0.55 the two still catch most of the same waves, so the pair smooths returns a little without insulating either from a shared selloff.
What does a correlation of 0.55 mean?
A reading of 0.55 sits on a scale from −1 (opposite moves) through 0 (unrelated) to +1 (identical moves). Correlation captures direction, not magnitude or performance.
Use this data
$ curl https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/pairs/ndsn-vs-nsc.json
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[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/ndsn-vs-nsc/)
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Related comparisons
Hubs: NDSN correlations · NSC correlations
