Mizuho Securities USA LLC Has $5.03 Million Stock Position in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Mizuho Securities USA LLC boosted its stake in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 46.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 21,442 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 6,781 shares during the period. Mizuho Securities USA LLC's holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $5,032,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in NSC. United Bank grew its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern by 2.4% during the third quarter. United Bank now owns 8,875 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,205,000 after buying an additional 204 shares during the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC grew its position in Norfolk Southern by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 6,086 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,512,000 after buying an additional 76 shares during the last quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. raised its position in Norfolk Southern by 5.6% during the 3rd quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. now owns 33,359 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $8,290,000 after buying an additional 1,783 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its position in Norfolk Southern by 0.4% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 604,019 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $150,099,000 after purchasing an additional 2,676 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 1.4% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,373,909 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $341,416,000 after buying an additional 19,394 shares in the last quarter. 75.10% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Norfolk Southern Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE NSC traded down $0.25 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $235.51. The company had a trading volume of 1,260,821 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,155,334. 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 stock has a market cap of $53.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.37, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.35. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 12 month low of $206.71 and a 12 month high of $277.60. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $245.81 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $249.42.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last announced 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 return on equity of 20.04% and a net margin of 21.63%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 earnings per share for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th were given a dividend of $1.35 per share. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.29%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.71%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Susquehanna lowered their price target on Norfolk Southern from $265.00 to $260.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Benchmark reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $285.00 target price on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Norfolk Southern in a report on Friday, March 7th. They set a "buy" rating and a $293.00 price objective on the stock. Bank of America lowered their price target on Norfolk Southern from $292.00 to $272.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Norfolk Southern has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $274.84.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere acquired 607 shares of the business's 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 transaction, the director now owns 2,487 shares of the company's stock, 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 legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.19% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Norfolk Southern Company 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.