Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC) Shares Bought by Geode Capital Management LLC

Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 2.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 4,694,573 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 113,648 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC owned about 2.08% of Norfolk Southern worth $1,098,472,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Financial Life Planners bought a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Keystone Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Norfolk Southern in the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust purchased a new stake in Norfolk Southern in the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Vision Financial Markets LLC bought a new position in Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Atlantic Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.10% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Norfolk Southern

In related news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere purchased 607 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, January 31st. The shares were bought at an average cost of $259.86 per share, with a total value 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. This trade represents a 32.29 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.19% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Norfolk Southern Stock Performance

NSC traded down $9.96 on Friday, reaching $210.78. 2,308,352 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,227,327. 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 company's 50-day moving average price is $242.94 and its 200 day moving average price is $248.36. The firm has a market capitalization of $51.97 billion, a PE ratio of 18.23, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.30. Norfolk Southern Co. has a fifty-two week low of $206.71 and a fifty-two week high of $277.60.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The railroad operator reported $3.04 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, sell-side analysts forecast that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 20th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th were issued a dividend of $1.35 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.56%. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.71%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on NSC shares. Benchmark reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $285.00 price target on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Norfolk Southern from $300.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Barclays cut their price target on Norfolk Southern from $305.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Bank of America dropped their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $292.00 to $272.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price 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. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $272.74.

Norfolk Southern 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.