UBS Group Issues Pessimistic Forecast for Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) Stock Price

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) had its price objective reduced by stock analysts at UBS Group from $305.00 to $284.00 in a research note issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a "buy" rating on the railroad operator's stock. UBS Group's target price would indicate a potential upside of 37.88% from the stock's previous close.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Robert W. Baird upped their target price on Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Bank of America dropped their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $292.00 to $272.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 25th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $300.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Susquehanna cut their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $265.00 to $260.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, Barclays lowered their target price on Norfolk Southern from $305.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $272.74.

Norfolk Southern Price Performance

Shares of NSC traded down $4.96 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $205.97. The company had a trading volume of 776,766 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,225,668. 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 has a 12-month low of $201.50 and a 12-month high of $277.60. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $242.94 and a 200-day simple moving average of $248.35. The company has a market capitalization of $50.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.81, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.30.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The railroad operator reported $3.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.97 by $0.07. Norfolk Southern had a net margin of 21.63% and a return on equity of 20.04%. Research analysts expect that Norfolk Southern will post 13 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Norfolk Southern

In related news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere bought 607 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred 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 acquisition, the director now owns 2,487 shares in the company, valued at $646,271.82. This represents a 32.29 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.19% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Norfolk Southern

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NSC. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern during the fourth quarter valued at about $547,575,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in Norfolk Southern by 11.9% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 8,608,080 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,020,318,000 after purchasing an additional 918,559 shares during the last quarter. Boston Partners boosted its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 16.9% during the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 4,020,392 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $945,385,000 after buying an additional 580,293 shares during the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 293.7% in the fourth quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 671,680 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $157,643,000 after buying an additional 501,053 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Amundi raised its holdings in Norfolk Southern by 56.4% in the fourth quarter. Amundi now owns 1,302,635 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $308,607,000 after acquiring an additional 469,558 shares in the last quarter. 75.10% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Norfolk Southern Company 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.