Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC) Shares Sold by Insigneo Advisory Services LLC

Insigneo Advisory Services LLC trimmed its holdings in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 54.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,114 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 2,544 shares during the quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC's holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $496,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Morse Asset Management Inc purchased a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 3rd quarter worth $30,000. Wealthquest Corp bought a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern during the 3rd quarter valued at about $216,000. Anchor Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 14,265 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,545,000 after purchasing an additional 170 shares during the last quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 10.7% in the 3rd quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 11,226 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,790,000 after purchasing an additional 1,089 shares during the period. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB grew its position in Norfolk Southern by 23.2% during the third quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 56,256 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $13,980,000 after buying an additional 10,593 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.10% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have weighed in on NSC shares. Susquehanna decreased their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $265.00 to $260.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Loop Capital lowered Norfolk Southern from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and cut their price target for the company from $289.00 to $256.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $300.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They set a "buy" rating and a $293.00 price objective on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $268.79.

Insider Activity at Norfolk Southern

In related news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere purchased 607 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 31st. The shares were acquired at an average cost 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 position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.06% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Norfolk Southern Trading Up 2.8 %

Shares of NSC traded up $5.96 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $219.99. 1,362,718 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,253,317. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The firm has a market cap of $54.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.03, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.30. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $233.78 and its 200 day moving average price is $245.73. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 12-month low of $201.63 and a 12-month high of $277.60.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The railroad operator reported $3.04 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%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 earnings per share for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th were paid a dividend of $1.35 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.45%. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio is presently 46.71%.

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.