Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC) Shares Purchased by Oak Thistle LLC

Oak Thistle LLC grew its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC) by 260.4% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 7,079 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 5,115 shares during the period. Oak Thistle LLC’s holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $1,661,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of NSC. Highline Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Morse Asset Management Inc acquired a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. HWG Holdings LP purchased a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Coastline Trust Co acquired a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the third quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in Norfolk Southern during the third quarter worth approximately $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.10% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Norfolk Southern

In related news, Director Sameh Fahmy acquired 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 24th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $255.00 per share, for a total transaction of $255,000.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 10,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,550,000. This represents a 11.11 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.19% of the company’s stock.

Norfolk Southern Price Performance

NSC opened at $238.80 on Wednesday. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $252.80 and its 200 day moving average price is $246.23. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 12-month low of $206.71 and a 12-month high of $277.60. The firm has a market cap of $54.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.42, a PEG ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 1.34. The company has a current ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 22nd. The railroad operator reported $3.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.11 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $3.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.08 billion. Norfolk Southern had a net margin of 19.85% and a return on equity of 20.25%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 3.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.65 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 11.82 earnings per share for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 1st were paid a $1.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 1st. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.26%. Norfolk Southern’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 50.70%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have issued reports on NSC. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on Norfolk Southern from $275.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Loop Capital raised their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $285.00 to $287.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $272.00 to $282.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Stephens reiterated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $263.00 price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Norfolk Southern currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $275.68.

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.