Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. Boosts Holdings in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 3.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,414,571 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 40,662 shares during the quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. owned about 0.63% of Norfolk Southern worth $332,000,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Reaves W H & Co. Inc. lifted its position in Norfolk Southern by 23.5% during the fourth quarter. Reaves W H & Co. Inc. now owns 219,300 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $51,470,000 after purchasing an additional 41,700 shares during the period. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern by 5.5% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 19,532 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $4,584,000 after purchasing an additional 1,015 shares in the last quarter. WMG Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern by 7.9% during the 4th quarter. WMG Financial Advisors LLC now owns 997 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $234,000 after buying an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 13.0% during the 4th quarter. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,763 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $883,000 after buying an additional 434 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fidelis Capital Partners LLC boosted its stake in Norfolk Southern by 19.3% in the fourth quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC now owns 2,686 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $672,000 after buying an additional 434 shares in the last quarter. 75.10% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Activity

In related news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere acquired 607 shares of the company's stock in a transaction 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 purchase, the director now owns 2,487 shares in the company, valued at approximately $646,271.82. The trade was a 32.29 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Sameh Fahmy bought 350 shares of Norfolk Southern stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 12th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $249.37 per share, with a total value of $87,279.50. Following the purchase, the director now owns 10,350 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,580,979.50. This represents a 3.50 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.19% of the company's stock.

Norfolk Southern Stock Up 2.4 %

Shares of NSC traded up $5.69 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $243.89. The stock had a trading volume of 1,221,460 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,158,598. 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 firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $246.51 and a 200-day simple moving average of $250.85. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 1-year low of $206.71 and a 1-year high of $277.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $55.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.35.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last posted its 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 21.63% and a return on equity of 20.04%. Sell-side analysts predict that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th were issued a $1.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.21%. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio is presently 46.71%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have weighed in on the stock. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $290.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Loop Capital cut shares of Norfolk Southern from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $289.00 to $256.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on Norfolk Southern in a research report on Friday. They set a "buy" rating and a $293.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Susquehanna reduced their target price on Norfolk Southern from $285.00 to $265.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $276.95.

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.