Founders Grove Wealth Partners LLC Makes New $1.04 Million Investment in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Founders Grove Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 4,449 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $1,044,000.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in NSC. Highline Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in Norfolk Southern during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Morse Asset Management Inc acquired a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the third quarter worth $30,000. Coastline Trust Co purchased a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern during the third quarter valued at $32,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in Norfolk Southern during the third quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, HWG Holdings LP purchased a new stake in Norfolk Southern in the 2nd quarter worth about $31,000. 75.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Norfolk Southern Price Performance

NYSE NSC traded up $1.31 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $240.55. 940,807 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 954,667. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 1-year low of $206.71 and a 1-year high of $277.60. The company has a market cap of $54.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.59, a P/E/G ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 1.34. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $252.80 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $246.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a current ratio of 0.73.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 22nd. The railroad operator reported $3.25 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $3.11 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $3.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.08 billion. Norfolk Southern had a return on equity of 20.25% and a net margin of 19.85%. The business's revenue was up 3.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.65 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 11.82 EPS for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 20th. Investors of record on Friday, November 1st were issued a dividend of $1.35 per share. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.24%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 1st. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio is currently 50.70%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

NSC has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Stephens reaffirmed an "equal weight" rating and set a $263.00 price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $276.00 to $291.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $241.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, October 11th. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $253.00 to $259.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Norfolk Southern from $283.00 to $288.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $275.68.

Insider Buying and Selling at Norfolk Southern

In other Norfolk Southern news, Director Sameh Fahmy bought 350 shares of Norfolk Southern stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 12th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $249.37 per share, with a total value of $87,279.50. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 10,350 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,580,979.50. The trade was a 3.50 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Company 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.