Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC) Receives Average Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from Brokerages

Shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) have been assigned an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the nineteen analysts that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, six have issued a hold recommendation and twelve have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $268.79.

NSC has been the subject of several analyst reports. Barclays cut their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $305.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on Norfolk Southern from $285.00 to $260.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $265.00 to $247.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Bank of America lowered their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $292.00 to $272.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 25th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $275.00 to $286.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere bought 607 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 in the company, valued at $646,271.82. This represents a 32.29 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.06% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Norfolk Southern

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Morse Asset Management Inc acquired a new stake in Norfolk Southern in the third quarter valued at $30,000. Wealthquest Corp acquired a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the third quarter worth about $216,000. Anchor Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Norfolk Southern by 1.2% in the third quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 14,265 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,545,000 after acquiring an additional 170 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 10.7% during 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 boosted its position in Norfolk Southern by 23.2% during the 3rd quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 56,256 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $13,980,000 after purchasing an additional 10,593 shares during the period. 75.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Norfolk Southern Stock Up 2.8 %

NYSE NSC traded up $5.96 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $219.99. 1,362,718 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,253,317. The company has a 50 day moving average of $233.78 and a two-hundred day moving average of $245.73. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.90 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. Norfolk Southern has a 52-week low of $201.63 and a 52-week 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 earnings per share 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%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Norfolk Southern will post 13 earnings per share for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

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