Zacks Research Cuts Earnings Estimates for Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) - Analysts at Zacks Research reduced their Q2 2025 EPS estimates for shares of Norfolk Southern in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, February 18th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now forecasts that the railroad operator will post earnings of $3.26 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $3.38. The consensus estimate for Norfolk Southern's current full-year earnings is $13.02 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Norfolk Southern's Q1 2026 earnings at $3.51 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $3.91 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $3.68 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $14.72 EPS.

Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Stephens lifted their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Benchmark reissued a "buy" rating and set a $285.00 price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Loop Capital lowered shares of Norfolk Southern from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $289.00 to $256.00 in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Susquehanna decreased their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $285.00 to $265.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $276.11.

Norfolk Southern Price Performance

Norfolk Southern stock traded down $1.57 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $247.84. 1,493,699 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,217,662. Norfolk Southern has a 12-month low of $206.71 and a 12-month high of $277.60. The company has a market capitalization of $56.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.44, a PEG ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 1.35. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $245.43 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $250.60. 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 (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly 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%.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

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

Insider Buying and Selling at Norfolk Southern

In other Norfolk Southern news, Director Sameh Fahmy bought 350 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 12th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $249.37 per share, for a total transaction of $87,279.50. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly 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 acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere acquired 607 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, January 31st. The shares were acquired at an average price of $259.86 per share, for a total transaction of $157,735.02. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 2,487 shares in the company, valued at $646,271.82. The trade was a 32.29 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.19% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Norfolk Southern

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Highline Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in Norfolk Southern in the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Financial Life Planners acquired a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Keystone Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust acquired a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Finally, Morse Asset Management Inc bought a new position in Norfolk Southern during the third quarter worth $30,000. Institutional investors own 75.10% of the company's stock.

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.