Vanguard Group Inc. Boosts Stock Position in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 0.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 20,089,164 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 139,485 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. owned approximately 8.88% of Norfolk Southern worth $4,714,927,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. FMR LLC grew its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 48.4% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,702,344 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $671,532,000 after buying an additional 881,415 shares during the period. Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Norfolk Southern in the third quarter worth $207,830,000. Boston Partners increased its stake in Norfolk Southern by 16.9% in the fourth quarter. Boston Partners now owns 4,020,392 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $945,385,000 after purchasing an additional 580,293 shares in the last quarter. Holocene Advisors LP acquired a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern during the third quarter valued at about $122,798,000. Finally, Amundi boosted its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 56.4% during the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 1,302,635 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $308,607,000 after purchasing an additional 469,558 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.10% of the company's stock.

Norfolk Southern Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE NSC traded down $4.80 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $230.41. The company's stock had a trading volume of 835,254 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,210,036. The firm has a market capitalization of $52.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.93, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.35. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $245.28 and a 200 day moving average price of $249.14. Norfolk Southern Co. has a one year low of $206.71 and a one year high of $277.60.

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Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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%. On average, research analysts forecast that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th were paid a $1.35 dividend. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio is presently 46.71%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

NSC has been the topic of a number of research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $300.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $265.00 to $260.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Thursday. Finally, 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. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $274.84.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere acquired 607 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 31st. The shares were bought at an average cost of $259.86 per share, for a total transaction of $157,735.02. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 2,487 shares in the company, 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 available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.19% of the company's stock.

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.