Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC) Shares Sold by Aviva PLC

Aviva PLC trimmed its position in shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 2.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 110,442 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 2,722 shares during the quarter. Aviva PLC's holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $25,921,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Life Planners purchased a new position in Norfolk Southern in the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Keystone Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust acquired a new position in Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Vision Financial Markets LLC purchased a new position in Norfolk Southern during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, Atlantic Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Norfolk Southern in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. 75.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at Norfolk Southern

In other news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere bought 607 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, January 31st. The shares were bought at an average price of $259.86 per share, with a total value of $157,735.02. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 2,487 shares in the company, valued at $646,271.82. This trade represents a 32.29 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.19% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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Norfolk Southern Trading Up 0.0 %

Norfolk Southern stock traded up $0.05 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $215.51. 330,179 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,242,068. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $237.90 and its 200 day simple moving average is $246.89. The stock has a market capitalization of $53.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.60, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. Norfolk Southern Co. has a fifty-two week low of $201.63 and a fifty-two week high of $277.60.

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 for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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, equities analysts anticipate that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 EPS for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 20th. Investors 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.51%. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.71%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on NSC shares. Stephens upped their target price on Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $305.00 to $284.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Benchmark reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $285.00 target price on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $298.00 to $259.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $285.00 to $260.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. One 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 stock. According to MarketBeat, Norfolk Southern currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $268.68.

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.