Hantz Financial Services Inc. Increases Stake in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Hantz Financial Services Inc. raised its position in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 312.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 19,881 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 15,060 shares during the quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc.'s holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $4,666,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in NSC. Forsta AP Fonden raised its holdings in Norfolk Southern by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Forsta AP Fonden now owns 45,300 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $10,632,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. Asset Dedication LLC increased its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 11.3% during the fourth quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 1,230 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $289,000 after buying an additional 125 shares during the period. Fulton Breakefield Broenniman LLC grew its stake in Norfolk Southern by 11.6% during the fourth quarter. Fulton Breakefield Broenniman LLC now owns 1,207 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $283,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. VCI Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Norfolk Southern by 39.8% in the 4th quarter. VCI Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,290 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,476,000 after purchasing an additional 1,791 shares in the last quarter. Finally, W Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Norfolk Southern by 39.0% in the 4th quarter. W Advisors LLC now owns 2,101 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $493,000 after purchasing an additional 590 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.10% of the company's stock.

Norfolk Southern Trading Up 0.5 %

Norfolk Southern stock traded up $1.31 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $258.05. 303,885 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,227,039. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 12-month low of $206.71 and a 12-month high of $277.60. The firm has a market cap of $58.38 billion, a PE ratio of 24.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 1.34. The company has a current ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $249.36 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $248.69.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The railroad operator reported $3.04 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.97 by $0.07. Norfolk Southern had a net margin of 19.85% and a return on equity of 20.25%. Research analysts expect that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 11.78 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. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be given a dividend of $1.35 per share. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.09%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 7th. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 50.70%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Sameh Fahmy bought 350 shares of Norfolk Southern stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 12th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $249.37 per share, with a total value of $87,279.50. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 10,350 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,580,979.50. This trade represents a 3.50 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 0.19% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on NSC shares. TD Cowen lifted their price target on Norfolk Southern from $253.00 to $259.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Norfolk Southern from $320.00 to $300.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Stephens lifted their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday. Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their price target on Norfolk Southern from $285.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $277.53.

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.