NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- CSX (CSX) - Get Report, Kansas City Southern (KSU) - Get Report, Norfolk Southern (NSC) - Get Report and Union Pacific (UNP) - Get Report are the railroad components of the iShares Transportation Average Exchange-Traded Fund, and all four have been a recent drag on the transportation ETF, which peaked on Nov. 28.

Only Union Pacific joined the airline components with all-time highs set early this year.

CSX peaked on Nov. 25, Kansas City Southern topped out on Nov. 11 and Northern Southern hit its high on Nov. 25. Union Pacific remained on the express track, setting an all-time intraday high on Feb. 13, but it could end this week with a negative weekly chart, while the transportation ETF stays positive but overbought.

Here is the daily chart for the transportation ETF, followed by profiles for the railroad stocks:

Courtesy of MetaStock Xenith

The daily chart for the transportation ETF ($161.91) shows a sideways-to-down pattern that began with the all-time intraday high of $167.80 set on Nov. 28. The 200-day simple moving average (green line) provided a buying opportunity between Oct. 10 and Oct.16 when this average was at $141.32.

The important level to hold is the 50-day SMA (blue line) at $161.07 as a close below this average indicates risk to the 200-day SMA now at $153.87.

CSX ($33.88) is down 6.5% so far this year and traded as low as $33.01 on Jan. 14 before rebounding by 12% to a subsequent high of $36.95 on Feb. 13.

The weekly chart will shift to negative given a close this week below its key weekly moving average of $34.82 as an annual technical level at $34.12 is a magnet.

Investors looking to buy CSX should enter a good 'til canceled limit order to buy weakness to a semiannual technical level at $32.82.

Investors looking to book profits should enter good 'til canceled limit orders to sell strength to monthly and quarterly technical levels at $36.56 and $39.52.

Kansas City Southern ($116.03) is down 4.9% so far this year and traded as low as $107.53 on Jan. 23 before rebounding 12% to a subsequent high of $120.63 on Feb. 23.

The weekly chart stays positive on a close this week above its key weekly moving average of $115.66, as an annual technical level at $116.33 is a magnet.

Investors looking to buy Kansas City Southern should enter a good 'til canceled limit order to buy weakness to a weekly technical level at $107.37.

Investors looking to book profits should enter good 'til canceled limit orders to sell strength to monthly, semiannual and quarterly technical levels at $126.08, $143.64 and $144.27, respectively.

Norfolk Southern ($109.16) is down 0.4% so far this year and traded as low as $99.80 on Jan. 14 before rebounding 12% to a subsequent high of $112.05 on Feb.19.

The weekly chart stays positive on a close this week above its key weekly moving average of $108.34 as a semiannual technical level at $108.10 is a magnet.

Investors looking to buy Norfolk Southern should enter a good 'til canceled limit order to buy weakness to an annual technical level at $96.26.

Investors looking to book profits should enter good 'til canceled limit orders to sell strength to monthly and quarterly technical levels at $113.07 and $127.26, respectively.

Union Pacific ($118.33) is down 0.7% so far this year after setting an all-time intraday high of $124.52 on Feb. 13.

The weekly chart shifts to negative given a close on Friday below its key weekly moving average of $119.52.

Investors looking to buy Union Pacific United should enter good 'til canceled limit orders to buy weakness to semiannual and annual technical levels at $115.19 and $104.03, respectively.

Investors looking to book profits should enter good 'til canceled limit orders to sell strength to quarterly and monthly technical levels at $126.09 and $127.38, respectively.

Follow @Suttmeier

This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned.