Brevan Howard Capital Management LP Purchases 35,531 Shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Brevan Howard Capital Management LP grew its position in shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 472.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 43,054 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 35,531 shares during the period. Brevan Howard Capital Management LP's holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $10,105,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Tidal Investments LLC lifted its position in Norfolk Southern by 10.7% in the third quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 11,716 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,911,000 after purchasing an additional 1,131 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its position in Norfolk Southern by 3.6% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 255,200 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $63,417,000 after purchasing an additional 8,844 shares during the period. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its stake in Norfolk Southern by 54.4% in the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 193 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 4.0% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,858 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $905,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nordea Investment Management AB boosted its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern by 8.3% during the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 18,940 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $4,451,000 after buying an additional 1,451 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.10% of the company's stock.

Norfolk Southern Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:NSC opened at $224.28 on Monday. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 52 week low of $201.63 and a 52 week high of $277.60. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $227.96 and a 200 day moving average of $243.90. The company has a market capitalization of $50.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16.

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

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Shareholders 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.41%. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio is presently 36.89%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently commented on NSC shares. Barclays dropped their price target on Norfolk Southern from $305.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Stephens upped their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. UBS Group decreased 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. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $300.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Norfolk Southern currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $266.10.

Norfolk Southern 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.

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