Bfsg LLC Has $7.13 Million Holdings in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Bfsg LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 3.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 30,360 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 1,020 shares during the period. Bfsg LLC's holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $7,125,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. State Street Corp grew its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 9,330,849 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,318,716,000 after buying an additional 196,249 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,580,925 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,133,828,000 after buying an additional 62,186 shares during the last quarter. EdgePoint Investment Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 2.7% during the 3rd quarter. EdgePoint Investment Group Inc. now owns 3,892,717 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $967,340,000 after buying an additional 103,281 shares during the last quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC grew its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 18,831.2% during the 3rd quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC now owns 3,298,000 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $819,553,000 after buying an additional 3,280,579 shares during the last quarter. Finally, 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 valued at $671,532,000 after buying an additional 881,415 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 75.10% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Norfolk Southern

In other Norfolk Southern news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere bought 607 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 31st. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $259.86 per share, with a total value of $157,735.02. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly 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 purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Sameh Fahmy bought 350 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 12th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $249.37 per share, with a total value of $87,279.50. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 10,350 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,580,979.50. The trade was a 3.50 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Company insiders own 0.19% of the company's stock.

Norfolk Southern Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:NSC traded down $1.57 during trading on Friday, reaching $247.84. The company had a trading volume of 1,493,699 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,217,662. The firm's fifty day moving average is $245.46 and its 200 day moving average is $250.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $56.12 billion, a PE ratio of 21.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 1.35. Norfolk Southern Co. has a twelve month low of $206.71 and a twelve month high of $277.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.90.

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, beating 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 analysts forecast that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13.02 EPS for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 20th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th were paid a dividend of $1.35 per share. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.18%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio is presently 46.71%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Loop Capital downgraded shares of Norfolk Southern from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $289.00 to $256.00 in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $290.00 to $305.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $320.00 to $300.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Stephens boosted their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $276.11.

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.