Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) Price Target Lowered to $260.00 at Jefferies Financial Group

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) had its price target reduced by analysts at Jefferies Financial Group from $285.00 to $260.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a "buy" rating on the railroad operator's stock. Jefferies Financial Group's price objective points to a potential upside of 17.77% from the company's current price.

Several other research analysts have also weighed in on NSC. Stephens lifted their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Norfolk Southern from $275.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $300.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, Susquehanna cut their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $265.00 to $260.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $268.79.

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Norfolk Southern Trading Up 1.1 %

Shares of Norfolk Southern stock traded up $2.45 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $220.76. The company had a trading volume of 311,276 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,245,116. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $237.20 and a 200 day moving average price of $246.74. Norfolk Southern has a fifty-two week low of $201.63 and a fifty-two week high of $277.60. The firm has a market cap of $54.43 billion, a PE ratio of 19.10, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.82.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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 analysts anticipate that Norfolk Southern will post 13 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity 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 bought 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 trade represents a 32.29 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.19% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL boosted its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 16.9% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 304 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $71,000 after buying an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Norfolk Southern by 1.5% during the fourth quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 3,097 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $727,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the period. Albert D Mason Inc. boosted its position in Norfolk Southern by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. Albert D Mason Inc. now owns 6,881 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,615,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. Signal Advisors Wealth LLC grew its stake in Norfolk Southern by 5.4% in the 4th quarter. Signal Advisors Wealth LLC now owns 960 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $225,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the period. Finally, MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 2,507 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $588,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. 75.10% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.