PharVision Advisers LLC Buys New Stake in Norfolk Southern Corporation $NSC

Key Points

• PharVision Advisers LLC has acquired 1,197 shares of Norfolk Southern Corporation, valued at approximately $284,000, during the first quarter of the year.
• Norfolk Southern recently reported a net margin of 27.51% and $3.11 billion in revenue for the last quarter, surpassing analysts' expectations.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.35 per share, which translates to an annualized yield of 1.9% and a payout ratio of 36.49%.

PharVision Advisers LLC acquired a new position in Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 1,197 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $284,000.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,321,359 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $4,813,114,000 after purchasing an additional 232,195 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 31.5% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 11,319,010 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,680,910,000 after acquiring an additional 2,710,930 shares during the last quarter. Boston Partners increased its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern by 3.4% in the 1st quarter. Boston Partners now owns 4,159,070 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $983,161,000 after buying an additional 138,678 shares during the last quarter. EdgePoint Investment Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. EdgePoint Investment Group Inc. now owns 3,998,335 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $947,006,000 after buying an additional 29,753 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in Norfolk Southern by 6.4% in the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 3,128,102 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $740,891,000 after buying an additional 189,076 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.10% of the company's stock.

Norfolk Southern Stock Down 0.8%

Shares of NYSE:NSC traded down $2.11 on Tuesday, hitting $273.48. 1,362,760 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,930,546. Norfolk Southern Corporation has a 52 week low of $201.63 and a 52 week high of $291.69. 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 50 day simple moving average of $275.23 and a 200-day simple moving average of $249.56. The company has a market cap of $61.43 billion, a PE ratio of 18.48, a PEG ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 1.29.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The railroad operator reported $3.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping 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. As a group, research analysts expect that Norfolk Southern Corporation will post 13 earnings per share for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 20th. Shareholders 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 2.0%. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 36.49%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently commented on NSC. Bank of America lifted their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $290.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 17th. TD Cowen raised Norfolk Southern from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price target for the stock from $263.00 to $323.00 in a research note on Monday, July 21st. Baird R W raised Norfolk Southern to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $288.00 target price (up previously from $282.00) on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $278.00 target price on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research note on Monday, June 2nd. Seven equities 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, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $285.15.

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.