Advisors Asset Management Inc. Boosts Stake in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Advisors Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 21.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 24,348 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 4,224 shares during the quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc.'s holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $5,714,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Raab & Moskowitz Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 2.4% in the third quarter. Raab & Moskowitz Asset Management LLC now owns 1,749 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $435,000 after buying an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Albert D Mason Inc. lifted its position in Norfolk Southern by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Albert D Mason Inc. now owns 6,881 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,615,000 after acquiring an additional 46 shares in the last quarter. Signal Advisors Wealth LLC boosted its stake in Norfolk Southern by 5.4% during the 4th quarter. Signal Advisors Wealth LLC now owns 960 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $225,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 2,507 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $588,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CKW Financial Group raised its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 7.7% in the third quarter. CKW Financial Group now owns 700 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $174,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 75.10% of the company's stock.

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Norfolk Southern Price Performance

NSC traded up $4.36 on Monday, hitting $236.11. 1,294,868 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,162,136. Norfolk Southern Co. has a one year low of $206.71 and a one year high of $277.60. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The firm has a market cap of $53.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.42, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.35. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $246.04 and its 200-day simple moving average is $249.75.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The railroad operator reported $3.04 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.97 by $0.07. Norfolk Southern had a net margin of 21.63% and a return on equity of 20.04%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 EPS for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 20th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th were given a $1.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.29%. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio is currently 46.71%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $320.00 to $300.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $275.00 to $286.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Benchmark reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $285.00 price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Susquehanna cut their price target on Norfolk Southern from $285.00 to $265.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $276.63.

Insider Activity at Norfolk Southern

In related news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere acquired 607 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 31st. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $259.86 per share, with a total value of $157,735.02. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 2,487 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $646,271.82. This trade represents a 32.29 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.19% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Norfolk Southern Profile

Norfolk Southern Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail transportation of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished goods in the United States. The company transports agriculture, forest, and consumer products comprising soybeans, wheat, corn, fertilizers, livestock and poultry feed, food products, food oils, flour, sweeteners, ethanol, lumber and wood products, pulp board and paper products, wood fibers, wood pulp, beverages, and canned goods; chemicals consist of sulfur and related chemicals, petroleum products comprising crude oil, chlorine and bleaching compounds, plastics, rubber, industrial chemicals, chemical wastes, sand, and natural gas liquids; metals and construction materials, such as steel, aluminum products, machinery, scrap metals, cement, aggregates, minerals, clay, transportation equipment, and military-related products; and automotive, including finished motor vehicles and automotive parts, as well as coal.