Janus Henderson Group PLC Reduces Stock Position in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Janus Henderson Group PLC decreased its holdings in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 3.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 28,580 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 1,081 shares during the period. Janus Henderson Group PLC's holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $6,716,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in NSC. Financial Life Planners bought a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Keystone Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust bought a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Vision Financial Markets LLC bought a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, Atlantic Private Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.10% of the company's stock.

Norfolk Southern Stock Up 0.3%

NYSE:NSC traded up $0.66 on Friday, reaching $240.30. 1,414,591 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,209,641. The company has a market capitalization of $54.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.79, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.30. 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 12 month low of $201.63 and a 12 month high of $277.60. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $227.14 and its 200 day simple moving average is $242.23.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.72 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $2.99 billion for 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%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.49 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 2nd were issued a dividend of $1.35 per share. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 2nd. Norfolk Southern's payout ratio is presently 36.89%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $298.00 to $259.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $300.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 27th. Loop Capital lowered shares of Norfolk Southern from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $289.00 to $256.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $285.00 to $260.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Norfolk Southern currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $266.50.

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.