Marshall Wace LLP Sells 434,820 Shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Marshall Wace LLP trimmed its position in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 63.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 255,508 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 434,820 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP owned approximately 0.11% of Norfolk Southern worth $59,968,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in NSC. Albert D Mason Inc. lifted its holdings in Norfolk Southern by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Albert D Mason Inc. now owns 6,881 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,615,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. Signal Advisors Wealth LLC grew its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 5.4% in the fourth quarter. Signal Advisors Wealth LLC now owns 960 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $225,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB boosted its stake in Norfolk Southern by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 2,507 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $588,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the period. Leavell Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Leavell Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,816 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,365,000 after buying an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Shayne & Jacobs LLC raised its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Shayne & Jacobs LLC now owns 3,327 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $781,000 after buying an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 75.10% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere acquired 607 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 31st. The stock was purchased at an average price of $259.86 per share, for a total transaction of $157,735.02. Following the completion of the transaction, 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 position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.06% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on NSC shares. Bank of America decreased their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $292.00 to $272.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 25th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on Norfolk Southern in a report on Friday, March 7th. They set a "buy" rating and a $293.00 price target for the company. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $285.00 to $260.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $298.00 to $259.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Barclays cut their price target on Norfolk Southern from $305.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Norfolk Southern presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $268.79.

Norfolk Southern Stock Performance

NYSE NSC traded up $5.96 on Friday, reaching $219.99. 1,362,718 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,253,317. 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 one year low of $201.63 and a one year high of $277.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $54.24 billion, a PE ratio of 19.03, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.30. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $233.78 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $245.74.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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%. Analysts expect that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 20th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th were given a dividend of $1.35 per share. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.45%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio is currently 46.71%.

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.