Jump Financial LLC Cuts Holdings in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Jump Financial LLC decreased its position in shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 68.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 8,118 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 17,850 shares during the quarter. Jump Financial LLC's holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $1,905,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Life Planners purchased a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Keystone Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust purchased a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Vision Financial Markets LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Atlantic Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Institutional investors own 75.10% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently commented on NSC. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $275.00 to $286.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $286.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $250.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Evercore ISI reduced their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $269.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Stephens increased their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $267.35.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Norfolk Southern news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere purchased 607 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 31st. The stock was purchased at an average price of $259.86 per share, with a total value of $157,735.02. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 2,487 shares in the company, valued at approximately $646,271.82. The trade was a 32.29 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.06% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Norfolk Southern Stock Performance

NYSE NSC traded up $5.04 on Thursday, reaching $226.99. 628,708 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,258,371. Norfolk Southern Co. has a one year low of $201.63 and a one year high of $277.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $55.97 billion, a PE ratio of 19.64, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.30. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $231.67 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $245.20. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.69 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.72 by ($0.03). Norfolk Southern had a return on equity of 20.04% and a net margin of 21.63%. The firm had revenue of $2.99 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.01 billion. Analysts expect that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 2nd will be issued a $1.35 dividend. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 2nd. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.