Cache Advisors LLC Makes New Investment in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Cache Advisors LLC bought a new position in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 7,409 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $1,739,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of NSC. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter worth approximately $547,575,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its stake in Norfolk Southern by 11.9% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 8,608,080 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,020,318,000 after acquiring an additional 918,559 shares during the period. Boston Partners grew its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 16.9% during the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 4,020,392 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $945,385,000 after buying an additional 580,293 shares during the period. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 293.7% during the 4th quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 671,680 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $157,643,000 after buying an additional 501,053 shares during the period. Finally, Amundi grew its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 56.4% during the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 1,302,635 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $308,607,000 after buying an additional 469,558 shares during the period. 75.10% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Norfolk Southern Stock Up 1.0%

NSC stock traded up $2.48 during trading on Thursday, reaching $245.02. The stock had a trading volume of 672,638 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,210,149. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 1-year low of $201.63 and a 1-year high of $277.60. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The company has a market capitalization of $55.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.21, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.30. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $227.69 and a 200 day moving average price of $241.59.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 analyst estimates of $3.01 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.49 EPS. The business's quarterly revenue was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 earnings per share for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 2nd were issued a $1.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 2nd. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.20%. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio is currently 36.89%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently issued reports on NSC shares. BMO Capital Markets reissued a "market perform" rating and set a $255.00 price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $275.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $265.00 to $247.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $305.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, Bank of America boosted their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $267.00 to $280.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $266.50.

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.