Aquatic Capital Management LLC Has $5.75 Million Stock Position in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Aquatic Capital Management LLC lowered its holdings in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 19.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 24,489 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 5,831 shares during the period. Aquatic Capital Management LLC's holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $5,748,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in NSC. Financial Life Planners bought a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern during the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. Keystone Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust bought a new position in Norfolk Southern during the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. Morse Asset Management Inc bought a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern during the 3rd quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Vision Financial Markets LLC bought a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.10% of the company's stock.

Norfolk Southern Stock Up 1.8 %

NYSE NSC traded up $3.95 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $224.37. 501,081 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,237,365. The stock has a market capitalization of $50.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.41, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.30. Norfolk Southern Co. has a twelve month low of $201.63 and a twelve month high of $277.60. The business's 50-day moving average is $228.38 and its 200-day moving average is $244.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.90.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.72 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $2.99 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.01 billion. Norfolk Southern had a net margin of 21.63% and a return on equity of 20.04%. Norfolk Southern's quarterly revenue was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.49 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 earnings per share for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 2nd will be given a $1.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 2nd. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.41%. Norfolk Southern's payout ratio is 36.89%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently commented on NSC. UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $275.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Benchmark reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $285.00 price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $285.00 to $260.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $298.00 to $259.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $305.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Norfolk Southern presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $266.10.

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.