CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX) Stock Has Consensus Target Price of $51.09

Key Points

• CSX has a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating from 26 analysts, with 18 buys, seven holds and one sell; the average 12-month price target is $51.09 versus the referenced share price of $47.50.
• CSX exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting adjusted earnings of $0.54 per share and revenue of $3.94 billion, with revenue up 10.1% year over year. Analysts expect approximately $2.00 in earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
• The company pays a quarterly dividend of $0.14, or $0.56 annually, yielding about 1.2%. Institutional investors own 73.57% of shares, while two senior executives recently sold stock, reducing insider ownership to 0.30%.

CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX - Get Free Report) has been given a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" by the twenty-six ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have given a hold recommendation and eighteen have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $51.09.

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on CSX shares. Weiss Ratings raised CSX from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "buy (b)" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on CSX from $49.00 to $53.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $59.00 price objective on shares of CSX in a report on Friday, July 24th. Wall Street Zen downgraded CSX from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 8th. Finally, Susquehanna lowered their target price on CSX from $59.00 to $55.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 2nd.

Insider Transactions at CSX

In related news, SVP Michael Burns sold 13,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.68, for a total value of $684,840.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 59,643 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,141,993.24. This represents a 17.90% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CAO Angela Williams sold 30,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $53.29, for a total transaction of $1,598,700.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 10,437 shares of the company's stock, valued at $556,187.73. This trade represents a 74.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in CSX by 185.0% in the 3rd quarter. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. now owns 13,923 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $648,000 after buying an additional 9,038 shares in the last quarter. Rockland Trust Co. increased its position in CSX by 5.2% during the third quarter. Rockland Trust Co. now owns 5,208 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $242,000 after buying an additional 258 shares in the last quarter. Polaris Financial Partners purchased a new position in CSX during the third quarter worth $44,000. CX Institutional raised its holdings in shares of CSX by 19.7% in the third quarter. CX Institutional now owns 26,098 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $1,214,000 after acquiring an additional 4,288 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Planning Strategies Inc. raised its stake in CSX by 2,222.0% in the 3rd quarter. Planning Strategies Inc. now owns 2,740 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $128,000 after purchasing an additional 2,622 shares during the last quarter. 73.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

CSX Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of NASDAQ CSX opened at $47.50 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. CSX has a 52 week low of $33.63 and a 52 week high of $53.60. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $49.21 and a 200 day moving average price of $46.88. The stock has a market capitalization of $87.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.21.

CSX (NASDAQ:CSX - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 22nd. The transportation company reported $0.54 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.52 by $0.02. CSX had a net margin of 22.21% and a return on equity of 24.98%. The company had revenue of $3.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.89 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.44 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that CSX will post 2 EPS for the current fiscal year.

CSX Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Investors of record on Monday, August 31st were given a $0.14 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 31st. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.2%. CSX's payout ratio is currently 32.37%.

More CSX News

Here are the key news stories impacting CSX this week:

• Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan Chase lowered its price target for CSX to $57 from $58 but maintained an Overweight rating. The revised target still implies roughly 20% upside from the referenced share price, providing continued support for the stock despite the modest target reduction. CSX Given New $57.00 Price Target at JPMorgan Chase & Co.
• Neutral Sentiment: CSX announced that its annual Santa Train will return on November 21, serving communities across Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. The event reinforces the company’s regional community presence but is unlikely to materially affect earnings or valuation. CSX Santa Train returning to Eastern Kentucky
• Neutral Sentiment: After-hours reports showed CSX shares modestly above the prior close in euro-denominated trading, indicating limited near-term market movement rather than a significant new catalyst. CSX stock after-hours at EUR 42.13
• Neutral Sentiment: A comparative analysis of Grab and CSX offers additional investor commentary, but the headline does not identify a specific new operational or financial development for CSX. Grab and CSX Critical Analysis
• Negative Sentiment: A Seeking Alpha analysis titled “Still Not Willing to Climb Aboard” signals continued caution about CSX’s investment outlook. Such skepticism may limit upside, particularly after JPMorgan’s small target reduction, although the article’s headline does not specify a new earnings or operating deterioration. CSX Corporation: Still Not Willing To Climb Aboard

CSX Company Profile

CSX Corporation NASDAQ: CSX is a transportation company that provides rail-based freight services through its principal subsidiary, CSX Transportation. The company moves a broad range of products, including agricultural and food products, chemicals, minerals, forest products, metals, automotive shipments, and consumer goods.

CSX also provides intermodal transportation, connecting rail shipments with trucks, ports, and distribution facilities. Its network serves the eastern United States and reaches parts of Canada, linking major industrial regions, population centers, manufacturing locations, and Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports.

CSX traces its history to the 1980 merger of Chessie System and Seaboard Coast Line Industries.

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