CSX Co. (NASDAQ:CSX) Receives Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from Brokerages

Shares of CSX Co. (NASDAQ:CSX - Get Free Report) have been assigned an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the twenty analysts that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and thirteen have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $33.90.

CSX has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of CSX from $30.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of CSX from $35.00 to $31.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of CSX from $36.00 to $35.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on shares of CSX from $37.00 to $34.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Finally, Evercore ISI decreased their price objective on shares of CSX from $35.00 to $33.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 17th.

CSX Stock Performance

NASDAQ CSX traded up $0.61 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $31.43. The company had a trading volume of 17,929,407 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,963,938. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $28.92 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $31.59. The stock has a market cap of $59.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.56, a P/E/G ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 1.22. CSX has a fifty-two week low of $26.22 and a fifty-two week high of $37.10. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43.

CSX (NASDAQ:CSX - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 16th. The transportation company reported $0.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.39 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $3.42 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.53 billion. CSX had a return on equity of 28.15% and a net margin of 23.95%. Equities analysts forecast that CSX will post 1.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

CSX Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.13 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.65%. CSX's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.14%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new position in CSX during the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. Accredited Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in CSX during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of CSX during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of CSX in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new stake in CSX during the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. 73.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About CSX

CSX Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides rail-based freight transportation services. The company offers rail services; and transportation of intermodal containers and trailers, as well as other transportation services, such as rail-to-truck transfers and bulk commodity operations. It also transports chemicals, agricultural and food products, minerals, automotive, forest products, fertilizers, and metals and equipment; and coal, coke, and iron ore to electricity-generating power plants, steel manufacturers, and industrial plants, as well as exports coal to deep-water port facilities.