Retirement Systems of Alabama Lowers Stock Position in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Retirement Systems of Alabama decreased its holdings in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC) by 0.1% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 48,984 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 49 shares during the period. Retirement Systems of Alabama’s holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $11,497,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Highline Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Financial Life Planners purchased a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Morse Asset Management Inc acquired a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Coastline Trust Co purchased a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern in the third quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.10% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Norfolk Southern news, Director Sameh Fahmy acquired 350 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 12th. The shares were acquired at an average price 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 trade represents a 3.50 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere bought 607 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 31st. The stock was acquired at an average price of $259.86 per share, with a total value of $157,735.02. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 2,487 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $646,271.82. The trade was a 32.29 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.19% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Norfolk Southern Stock Down 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE NSC opened at $249.20 on Friday. 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 firm’s 50-day moving average is $247.05 and its two-hundred day moving average is $249.50. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 12-month low of $206.71 and a 12-month high of $277.60. The company has a market capitalization of $56.38 billion, a PE ratio of 21.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 1.35.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The railroad operator reported $3.04 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.97 by $0.07. Norfolk Southern had a return on equity of 20.04% and a net margin of 21.63%. Equities analysts anticipate that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 20th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th will be paid a $1.35 dividend. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.17%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 7th. Norfolk Southern’s payout ratio is 46.71%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Susquehanna lowered their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $285.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $290.00 to $305.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Stephens lifted their price target on Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $276.11.

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.