Kentucky Trust Co Acquires New Holdings in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Kentucky Trust Co bought a new position in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 9,837 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $2,309,000. Norfolk Southern makes up approximately 1.4% of Kentucky Trust Co's investment portfolio, making the stock its 26th biggest position.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Highline Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern during the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Financial Life Planners acquired a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern during the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. Keystone Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern during the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. Morse Asset Management Inc acquired a new position in Norfolk Southern in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Coastline Trust Co acquired a new position in Norfolk Southern in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. 75.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere purchased 607 shares of Norfolk Southern stock in a transaction dated 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 acquisition, the director now directly 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 hyperlink. Also, Director Sameh Fahmy purchased 350 shares of Norfolk Southern stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 12th. The shares were bought at an average price of $249.37 per share, for a total transaction of $87,279.50. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 10,350 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,580,979.50. This trade represents a 3.50 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.19% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Norfolk Southern Price Performance

Norfolk Southern stock traded down $1.32 during trading on Friday, reaching $255.90. The company had a trading volume of 908,786 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,245,843. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $245.35 and its 200 day simple moving average is $250.44. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 1-year low of $206.71 and a 1-year high of $277.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $57.89 billion, a PE ratio of 22.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 1.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.90.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The railroad operator reported $3.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13.02 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be paid a dividend of $1.35 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 7th. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.11%. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.71%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages recently weighed in on NSC. Loop Capital downgraded shares of Norfolk Southern from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and cut their price target for the stock from $289.00 to $256.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $290.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. Benchmark reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $285.00 price target on shares of Norfolk Southern in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target 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. Finally, UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $289.00 to $309.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. One 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 data from MarketBeat.com, Norfolk Southern currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $276.11.

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.