Natixis Advisors LLC Buys 25,090 Shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Natixis Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 8.8% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 311,501 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 25,090 shares during the quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC owned about 0.14% of Norfolk Southern worth $73,109,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Keystone Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Norfolk Southern in the fourth quarter worth approximately $27,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust bought a new position in Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Vision Financial Markets LLC acquired a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, Morse Asset Management Inc bought a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 3rd quarter worth $30,000. 75.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on Norfolk Southern from $275.00 to $286.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Benchmark restated a "buy" rating and issued a $285.00 target price on shares of Norfolk Southern in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Loop Capital downgraded Norfolk Southern from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $289.00 to $256.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $293.00 price target for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Norfolk Southern currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $276.95.

Remove Ads

Norfolk Southern Stock Down 0.5 %

NSC stock traded down $1.22 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $233.45. The company's stock had a trading volume of 959,337 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,160,962. The company has a market capitalization of $52.86 billion, a PE ratio of 20.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.35. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $246.14 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $250.14. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 12 month low of $206.71 and a 12 month high of $277.60.

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%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 earnings per share for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th were given a dividend of $1.35 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.31%. Norfolk Southern's payout ratio is currently 46.71%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Norfolk Southern

In other Norfolk Southern news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere purchased 607 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the transaction, the director now owns 2,487 shares in the company, valued at $646,271.82. This trade represents a 32.29 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.19% of the company's stock.

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.