Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC) Shares Bought by Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB

Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB increased its stake in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 2.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 57,528 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 1,272 shares during the quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB's holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $13,502,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in NSC. Mizuho Securities USA LLC boosted its stake 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 worth $819,553,000 after acquiring an additional 3,280,579 shares during the last quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC raised its holdings in Norfolk Southern by 25,181.8% in the 3rd quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC now owns 893,459 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $222,025,000 after purchasing an additional 889,925 shares during the period. FMR LLC lifted its position in Norfolk Southern by 48.4% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,702,344 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $671,532,000 after purchasing an additional 881,415 shares in the last quarter. Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the third quarter valued at about $207,830,000. Finally, Holocene Advisors LP purchased a new stake in Norfolk Southern in the third quarter worth about $122,798,000. Institutional investors own 75.10% of the company's stock.

Norfolk Southern Price Performance

Shares of NYSE NSC traded down $2.65 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $253.80. 876,492 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,197,585. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.82. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 1 year low of $206.71 and a 1 year high of $277.60. The company's 50-day moving average is $245.86 and its two-hundred day moving average is $250.31. The company has a market capitalization of $57.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.96, a PEG ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 1.35.

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 (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates 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 13.02 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be given a dividend of $1.35 per share. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.13%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 7th. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.71%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Norfolk Southern

In related news, Director Sameh Fahmy purchased 350 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 12th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $249.37 per share, with a total value of $87,279.50. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 10,350 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,580,979.50. This represents a 3.50 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere purchased 607 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, January 31st. The shares were purchased at an average price of $259.86 per share, for a total transaction of $157,735.02. Following the purchase, the director now owns 2,487 shares in the company, valued at approximately $646,271.82. The trade was a 32.29 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Company insiders own 0.19% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NSC has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $253.00 to $259.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective 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. Susquehanna lowered their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $285.00 to $265.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Bank of America increased their price target on Norfolk Southern from $276.00 to $291.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $275.00 to $286.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently 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.