New Republic Capital LLC Has $4.39 Million Stake in Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE:NSC)

Key Points

• New Republic Capital LLC increased its stake in Norfolk Southern by 8.5%, acquiring a total of 18,528 shares valued at nearly $4.4 million, making it the eighth largest position in their portfolio.
• At least six institutional investors, including Brighton Jones LLC and Allianz SE, made changes to their positions in Norfolk Southern during the previous quarter, highlighting strong institutional interest in the stock.
• Analysts have mixed ratings for Norfolk Southern, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a target price of $282.50, reflecting varying views on the stock's potential performance.

New Republic Capital LLC raised its position in Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 8.5% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 18,528 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 1,454 shares during the period. Norfolk Southern accounts for 1.9% of New Republic Capital LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest holding. New Republic Capital LLC's holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $4,388,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL raised its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 16.9% during the fourth quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 304 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $71,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the period. CoreCap Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 1.5% during the fourth quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 3,097 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $727,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. Canandaigua National Trust Co of Florida raised its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 4.9% during the first quarter. Canandaigua National Trust Co of Florida now owns 956 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $226,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 1.8% during the first quarter. Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 2,556 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $605,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. Finally, Malaga Cove Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 2.1% during the fourth quarter. Malaga Cove Capital LLC now owns 2,451 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $575,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. 75.10% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently issued reports on NSC shares. BMO Capital Markets restated a "market perform" rating and issued a $255.00 price target on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $288.00 to $305.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Susquehanna reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $260.00 target price (up previously from $250.00) on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research note on Tuesday, June 24th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a "hold" rating and set a $300.00 target price on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $271.00 to $270.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $285.15.

Norfolk Southern Stock Down 0.0%

Shares of NYSE NSC traded down $0.10 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $278.90. The stock had a trading volume of 1,875,849 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,515,025. The company has a market capitalization of $62.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.85, a P/E/G ratio of 2.28 and a beta of 1.31. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $258.51 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $244.17. Norfolk Southern Corporation has a 52 week low of $201.63 and a 52 week high of $288.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a current ratio of 0.79.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly 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 analysts' expectations of $3.10 billion. Norfolk Southern had a return on equity of 19.35% and a net margin of 27.51%. Analysts anticipate that Norfolk Southern Corporation will post 13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 20th. Investors of record on Friday, August 1st will be paid a $1.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 1st. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.94%. Norfolk Southern's payout ratio is 36.89%.

Norfolk Southern Company 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.