Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Raises Stock Holdings in Norfolk Southern Corporation $NSC

Key Points

• Canada Pension Plan Investment Board increased its stake in Norfolk Southern by 70.1%, acquiring an additional 84,920 shares, bringing its total ownership to 206,043 shares worth approximately $48.8 million.
• Norfolk Southern recently posted quarterly earnings of $3.29 per share, exceeding estimates, with a revenue of $3.11 billion, and has set its FY 2025 guidance at a projected earnings per share of 13.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.35 per share, reflecting an annualized dividend of $5.40 and a yield of 1.9%, alongside a dividend payout ratio of 36.49%.

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board increased its position in shares of Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 70.1% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 206,043 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 84,920 shares during the quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board owned about 0.09% of Norfolk Southern worth $48,801,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. WPG Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in Norfolk Southern in the first quarter valued at $27,000. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Putney Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Greenline Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, HWG Holdings LP bought a new position in Norfolk Southern during the first quarter worth $35,000. Institutional investors own 75.10% of the company's stock.

Norfolk Southern Stock Up 0.7%

Shares of NYSE NSC traded up $1.83 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $280.02. 453,206 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,604,941. Norfolk Southern Corporation has a 1 year low of $201.63 and a 1 year high of $291.69. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $273.93 and a 200 day moving average of $249.06. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11. The stock has a market cap of $62.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.92, a P/E/G ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 1.29.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 29th. The railroad operator reported $3.29 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.24 by $0.05. Norfolk Southern had a net margin of 27.51% and a return on equity of 19.35%. The business had revenue of $3.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.10 billion. Norfolk Southern has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Norfolk Southern Corporation will post 13 earnings per share for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

NSC has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Susquehanna reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $260.00 price objective (up from $250.00) on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research note on Tuesday, June 24th. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $255.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 22nd. Baird R W upgraded shares of Norfolk Southern to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a "neutral" rating and set a $278.00 target price on shares of Norfolk Southern in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $288.00 price objective (up from $282.00) on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and fourteen have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Norfolk Southern presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $285.15.

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.