14,858 Shares in CSX Co. (NASDAQ:CSX) Acquired by Vista Investment Partners II LLC

Vista Investment Partners II LLC bought a new position in CSX Co. (NASDAQ:CSX) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 14,858 shares of the transportation company’s stock, valued at approximately $479,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of CSX by 3.4% during the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 2,348,543 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $81,095,000 after buying an additional 77,488 shares during the last quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of CSX during the third quarter valued at approximately $499,000. Assetmark Inc. increased its position in shares of CSX by 6.2% during the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 369,680 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $12,765,000 after purchasing an additional 21,662 shares during the period. Proficio Capital Partners LLC increased its position in shares of CSX by 34.1% during the third quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 15,098 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $521,000 after purchasing an additional 3,838 shares during the period. Finally, Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of CSX by 7.3% during the third quarter. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. now owns 15,771 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $545,000 after purchasing an additional 1,075 shares during the period. 73.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

CSX Price Performance

Shares of CSX opened at $31.26 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43. CSX Co. has a 1 year low of $30.55 and a 1 year high of $38.35. The stock has a market cap of $59.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 1.25. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $32.48 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $33.62.

CSX (NASDAQ:CSX) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The transportation company reported $0.42 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.44 by ($0.02). CSX had a net margin of 23.95% and a return on equity of 28.15%. On average, equities analysts predict that CSX Co. will post 1.83 earnings per share for the current year.

CSX Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.13 per share. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.66%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This is a boost from CSX’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.12. CSX’s payout ratio is 29.05%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Loop Capital cut CSX from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $40.00 to $34.00 in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Barclays decreased their target price on CSX from $40.00 to $38.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 24th. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on CSX from $39.00 to $38.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 24th. Raymond James restated an “outperform” rating and set a $37.00 target price (down previously from $38.00) on shares of CSX in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on CSX in a report on Friday. They set a “hold” rating and a $34.00 target price on the stock. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, CSX has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $37.00.

CSX Profile

CSX Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides rail-based freight transportation services. The company offers rail services; and transportation of intermodal containers and trailers, as well as other transportation services, such as rail-to-truck transfers and bulk commodity operations. It also transports chemicals, agricultural and food products, minerals, automotive, forest products, fertilizers, and metals and equipment; and coal, coke, and iron ore to electricity-generating power plants, steel manufacturers, and industrial plants, as well as exports coal to deep-water port facilities.