Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC) Shares Bought by Vanguard Group Inc.

Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC) by 0.7% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 20,089,164 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 139,485 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned approximately 8.88% of Norfolk Southern worth $4,714,927,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Financial Life Planners bought a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Keystone Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in Norfolk Southern in the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust acquired a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Vision Financial Markets LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Atlantic Private Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. 75.10% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Norfolk Southern Price Performance

NSC stock opened at $236.11 on Tuesday. Norfolk Southern Co. has a one year low of $206.71 and a one year high of $277.60. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $246.01 and a two-hundred day moving average of $249.63. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $53.46 billion, a PE ratio of 20.42, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.35.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The railroad operator reported $3.04 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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%. On average, analysts forecast that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 earnings per share for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th were given a dividend of $1.35 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.29%. Norfolk Southern’s payout ratio is presently 46.71%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere purchased 607 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 directly owns 2,487 shares in the company, valued at approximately $646,271.82. The trade was a 32.29 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.19% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently weighed in on NSC. Loop Capital lowered shares of Norfolk Southern from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $289.00 to $256.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Norfolk Southern from $275.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $285.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Stephens increased their target price on Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Norfolk Southern in a report on Friday, March 7th. They set a “buy” rating and a $293.00 price target for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $276.63.

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.