Zacks Research Issues Pessimistic Outlook for NSC Earnings

Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC) – Analysts at Zacks Research cut their Q2 2025 earnings per share estimates for shares of Norfolk Southern in a research note issued on Tuesday, February 18th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now anticipates that the railroad operator will post earnings of $3.26 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate 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.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The railroad operator reported $3.04 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.97 by $0.07. Norfolk Southern had a return on equity of 20.04% and a net margin of 21.63%.

Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $285.00 price target on shares of Norfolk Southern in a report on Thursday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $286.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. UBS Group upped their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $289.00 to $309.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $275.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $276.00 to $291.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $276.11.

Norfolk Southern Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:NSC opened at $248.96 on Thursday. Norfolk Southern has a one year low of $206.71 and a one year high of $277.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The company has a market cap of $56.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.54, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.35. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $245.41 and a 200 day simple moving average of $250.61.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be given a dividend of $1.35 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 7th. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.17%. Norfolk Southern’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.71%.

Insider Activity

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

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Norfolk Southern

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Highline Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern during the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Financial Life Planners purchased a new stake in Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Keystone Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust purchased a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Finally, Morse Asset Management Inc bought a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern in the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. 75.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.