Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Raises Position in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 13.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,916,261 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 230,225 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned about 0.85% of Norfolk Southern worth $449,730,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of NSC. Financial Life Planners purchased a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. Keystone Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust purchased a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. Vision Financial Markets LLC bought a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Atlantic Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Norfolk Southern during the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. 75.10% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere purchased 607 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 31st. The shares were bought at an average price of $259.86 per share, for a total transaction of $157,735.02. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 2,487 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $646,271.82. This represents a 32.29 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.06% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently weighed in on NSC shares. Bank of America decreased their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $292.00 to $272.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. Stephens lifted their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. BMO Capital Markets restated a "market perform" rating and set a $255.00 price target on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research report on Thursday. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $265.00 to $247.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Finally, Barclays cut their target price on Norfolk Southern from $305.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $266.10.

Norfolk Southern Trading Down 1.6 %

NYSE NSC traded down $3.69 on Friday, hitting $222.99. The company's stock had a trading volume of 494,284 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,254,746. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 52-week low of $201.63 and a 52-week high of $277.60. The firm has a market cap of $54.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.28, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.30. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $231.08 and its 200 day simple moving average is $245.08.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly 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 company 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%. Research analysts predict that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced 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. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 2nd. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio is currently 46.71%.

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.