Norfolk Southern Corporation $NSC Shares Sold by Sepio Capital LP

Key Points

• Sepio Capital LP has reduced its stake in Norfolk Southern Corporation by 15.5%, selling 2,095 shares in the first quarter, valued at approximately $2.7 million.
• Several institutional investors increased their holdings in Norfolk Southern, including Golden State Wealth Management, which boosted its stake by 883.3%, now owning shares valued at $42,000.
• Analysts have raised their price targets for Norfolk Southern, with Robert W. Baird setting a new target at $300 and TD Cowen at $323, indicating a strong market outlook for the stock.

Sepio Capital LP lessened its holdings in Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 15.5% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 11,399 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 2,095 shares during the period. Sepio Capital LP's holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $2,700,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Golden State Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Norfolk Southern by 883.3% in the first quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 177 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 159 shares during the last quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC increased its stake in Norfolk Southern by 1.9% during the first quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 3,571 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $846,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in Norfolk Southern by 4.1% during the first quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 71,463 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $16,925,000 after acquiring an additional 2,782 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in Norfolk Southern by 8.3% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 4,179 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $990,000 after acquiring an additional 321 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Banque Cantonale Vaudoise bought a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the first quarter worth approximately $1,042,000. Institutional investors own 75.10% of the company's stock.

Norfolk Southern Stock Up 0.5%

Shares of NSC stock traded up $1.45 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $273.81. 1,067,978 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,604,631. The stock's 50 day moving average is $275.66 and its 200-day moving average is $249.88. The company has a market cap of $61.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.50, a P/E/G ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a current ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11. Norfolk Southern Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $201.63 and a fifty-two week high of $291.69.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 29th. The railroad operator reported $3.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.24 by $0.05. Norfolk Southern had a net margin of 27.51% and a return on equity of 19.35%. The firm had revenue of $3.11 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.10 billion. Norfolk Southern has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. Analysts predict that Norfolk Southern Corporation will post 13 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 1st were issued a dividend of $1.35 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 1st. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio is 36.49%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on NSC shares. Royal Bank Of Canada cut Norfolk Southern from a "moderate buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 29th. 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 note on Wednesday, July 30th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $275.00 to $279.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 30th. Susquehanna reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $260.00 price objective (up from $250.00) on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research note on Tuesday, June 24th. Finally, Evercore ISI restated an "in-line" rating and issued a $289.00 target price (up from $279.00) on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research note 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. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $285.15.

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.