UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC Raises Stock Holdings in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC grew its holdings in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 18.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,210,507 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 186,782 shares during the period. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC owned about 0.53% of Norfolk Southern worth $284,106,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of NSC. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL lifted its stake in Norfolk Southern by 16.9% in the fourth quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 304 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $71,000 after acquiring an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC raised its stake in Norfolk Southern by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 3,097 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $727,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB lifted its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 2,507 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $588,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. Leavell Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern by 0.9% in the fourth quarter. Leavell Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,816 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,365,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the period. Finally, Shayne & Jacobs LLC boosted its stake in Norfolk Southern by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Shayne & Jacobs LLC now owns 3,327 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $781,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.10% of the company's stock.

Norfolk Southern Price Performance

Shares of NSC stock traded up $4.25 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $244.27. The stock had a trading volume of 262,819 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,207,688. The company has a market cap of $55.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.13, a price-to-earnings-growth 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 business has a 50-day simple moving average of $227.25 and a 200 day simple moving average of $241.56.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.72 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $2.99 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.01 billion. Norfolk Southern had a net margin of 21.63% and a return on equity of 20.04%. The business's revenue was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.49 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 earnings per share for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 2nd were paid a dividend of $1.35 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 2nd. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.21%. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 36.89%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Susquehanna lowered their target price on Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $250.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $286.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Benchmark reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $285.00 price target on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $300.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, Loop Capital lowered Norfolk Southern from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $289.00 to $256.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently 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.