IFM Investors Pty Ltd Purchases 2,172 Shares of Norfolk Southern Corporation $NSC

Key Points

• IFM Investors Pty Ltd increased its stake in Norfolk Southern Corporation by 4.0%, acquiring an additional 2,172 shares, bringing their total holdings to 55,908 shares worth approximately $14.3 million.
• Norfolk Southern reported earnings of $3.29 EPS for the last quarter, exceeding the consensus estimate by $0.05, with revenue totaling $3.11 billion.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.35 per share, yielding an annualized return of 1.9% with a dividend payout ratio of approximately 36.49%.

IFM Investors Pty Ltd grew its position in Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 4.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 55,908 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 2,172 shares during the period. IFM Investors Pty Ltd's holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $14,311,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. WPG Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern during the first quarter worth $27,000. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Putney Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Norfolk Southern in the fourth quarter valued at $30,000. HWG Holdings LP acquired a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 1st quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 129.2% during the first quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 149 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares during the last quarter. 75.10% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Norfolk Southern Price Performance

Shares of NYSE NSC traded up $1.26 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $283.94. 2,712,265 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,921,810. Norfolk Southern Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $201.63 and a fifty-two week high of $291.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.71. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $277.90 and a 200-day simple moving average of $251.66. The firm has a market cap of $63.78 billion, a PE ratio of 19.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 1.29.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The railroad operator reported $3.29 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.24 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $3.11 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.10 billion. Norfolk Southern had a net margin of 27.51% and a return on equity of 19.35%. Norfolk Southern has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Norfolk Southern Corporation will post 13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 20th. Investors of record on Friday, August 1st were paid a $1.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 1st. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. Norfolk Southern's payout ratio is presently 36.49%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently weighed in on NSC shares. Citigroup lifted their price target on Norfolk Southern from $288.00 to $305.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a "hold" rating and set a $300.00 price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Royal Bank Of Canada downgraded shares of Norfolk Southern from a "moderate buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $288.00 target price (up previously from $282.00) on shares of Norfolk Southern in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, Loop Capital increased their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $235.00 to $278.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and fourteen have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Norfolk Southern presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $286.25.

About Norfolk Southern

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.