Bank of Montreal Can Increases Position in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Bank of Montreal Can boosted its stake in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 0.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 265,880 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 2,374 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can owned about 0.12% of Norfolk Southern worth $62,402,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Financial Life Planners bought a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Keystone Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust acquired a new stake in Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Vision Financial Markets LLC bought a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern in the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, Atlantic Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Institutional investors own 75.10% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Norfolk Southern

In other news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere bought 607 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 31st. The stock was purchased at an average price of $259.86 per share, for a total transaction of $157,735.02. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 2,487 shares of the company's stock, valued at $646,271.82. The trade was a 32.29 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.19% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on Norfolk Southern from $265.00 to $247.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. Benchmark reissued a "buy" rating and set a $285.00 target price on shares of Norfolk Southern in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $265.00 to $260.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Barclays lowered their price target on Norfolk Southern from $305.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, Citigroup cut their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $298.00 to $259.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Norfolk Southern has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $268.79.

Norfolk Southern Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE NSC traded down $1.46 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $219.94. 248,362 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,243,783. 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 Co. has a one year low of $201.63 and a one year high of $277.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $54.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.03, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.30. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $236.57 and a two-hundred day moving average of $246.56.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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%. On average, equities analysts forecast that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th were paid a $1.35 dividend. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. Norfolk Southern's payout ratio is currently 46.71%.

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.