Inceptionr LLC Lowers Stock Position in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Inceptionr LLC lessened its stake in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 63.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,330 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 2,301 shares during the period. Inceptionr LLC's holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $312,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in NSC. Financial Life Planners bought a new position in Norfolk Southern in the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Keystone Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust bought a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Vision Financial Markets LLC bought a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Morse Asset Management Inc purchased a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern during the 3rd quarter valued at about $30,000. Institutional investors own 75.10% of the company's stock.

Norfolk Southern Price Performance

NSC stock opened at $243.89 on Monday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $246.51 and a 200 day moving average of $250.92. 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 company has a market cap of $55.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.10, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.35. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 1 year low of $206.71 and a 1 year high of $277.60.

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Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The railroad operator reported $3.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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, sell-side analysts forecast that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 EPS for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.21%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.71%.

Insider Transactions at Norfolk Southern

In other Norfolk Southern news, Director Sameh Fahmy bought 350 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 12th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $249.37 per share, for a total transaction of $87,279.50. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 10,350 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,580,979.50. This trade represents a 3.50 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere purchased 607 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 31st. The stock was bought at an average price of $259.86 per share, for a total transaction of $157,735.02. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 2,487 shares in the company, valued at $646,271.82. The trade was a 32.29 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 0.19% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

NSC has been the subject of several research reports. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Norfolk Southern from $275.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $320.00 to $300.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Susquehanna lowered their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $285.00 to $265.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Loop Capital cut Norfolk Southern from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $289.00 to $256.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have assigned 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 $276.95.

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.

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