Headlands Technologies LLC Sells 1,221 Shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Headlands Technologies LLC cut its stake in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 67.8% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 580 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 1,221 shares during the period. Headlands Technologies LLC's holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $136,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Financial Life Planners acquired a new position in Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Keystone Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in Norfolk Southern in the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust bought a new position in Norfolk Southern during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Vision Financial Markets LLC acquired a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Atlantic Private Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. 75.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Norfolk Southern Price Performance

Shares of NSC stock traded down $8.33 on Thursday, hitting $213.69. 324,018 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,290,860. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The stock has a market cap of $52.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.30. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 12 month low of $201.63 and a 12 month high of $277.60. The company has a 50 day moving average of $238.59 and a 200 day moving average of $247.11.

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

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th were issued a dividend of $1.35 per share. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.53%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.71%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have weighed in on NSC. Royal Bank of Canada increased 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. Bank of America dropped their price target on Norfolk Southern from $292.00 to $272.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Norfolk Southern from $300.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target 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, Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Norfolk Southern has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $268.68.

Insider Activity at Norfolk Southern

In other news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere bought 607 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 31st. The shares were acquired at an average price of $259.86 per share, for a total transaction of $157,735.02. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 2,487 shares in the company, valued at approximately $646,271.82. This represents 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 link. 0.19% of the stock is owned by company 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.