Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC) Shares Acquired by Atria Investments Inc

Atria Investments Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 9.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 20,475 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 1,829 shares during the period. Atria Investments Inc's holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $4,805,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Life Planners bought a new position in Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Keystone Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust purchased a new position in Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Morse Asset Management Inc purchased a new position in Norfolk Southern in the 3rd quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Coastline Trust Co bought a new stake in Norfolk Southern in the 3rd quarter worth $32,000. 75.10% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NSC has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Loop Capital lowered shares of Norfolk Southern from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and cut their price target for the stock from $289.00 to $256.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $275.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Benchmark reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $285.00 target price on shares of Norfolk Southern in a report on Thursday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $286.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Stephens boosted their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Norfolk Southern currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $276.95.

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Norfolk Southern Trading Up 2.4 %

Shares of NSC stock traded up $5.69 on Friday, hitting $243.89. 1,221,460 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,158,598. The stock has a market capitalization of $55.22 billion, a PE ratio of 21.10, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.35. Norfolk Southern Co. has a twelve month low of $206.71 and a twelve month high of $277.60. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $246.51 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $250.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.90.

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

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th were issued a $1.35 dividend. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.21%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. Norfolk Southern's payout ratio is currently 46.71%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Sameh Fahmy acquired 350 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 12th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $249.37 per share, for a total transaction of $87,279.50. Following the transaction, the director now owns 10,350 shares in the company, valued at $2,580,979.50. This trade represents a 3.50 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere acquired 607 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 31st. The shares were bought at an average price of $259.86 per share, with a total value of $157,735.02. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,487 shares in the company, valued at $646,271.82. This represents a 32.29 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.19% of the company's stock.

About Norfolk Southern

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.