Vanguard Group Inc. Buys 272,651 Shares of Norfolk Southern Corporation $NSC

Key Points

• Vanguard increased its position by 272,651 shares (up 1.3%) and now owns 20,825,837 shares of Norfolk Southern—about 9.28% of the company, valued at roughly $6.01 billion at quarter end.
• Norfolk Southern reported Q1 EPS of $2.65, beating the $2.49 estimate while revenue came in at $3.0 billion (below the $3.13 billion consensus), and declared a quarterly dividend of $1.35 ($5.40 annual, ~1.7% yield).
• Institutional investors hold about 75.1% of the stock; NSC trades near $320 with a market cap of $78.37 billion, and the consensus analyst rating is Hold with an average price target of $315.61.

Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 1.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 20,825,837 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 272,651 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. owned approximately 9.28% of Norfolk Southern worth $6,012,836,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in NSC. Massachusetts Wealth Management lifted its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Wealth Management now owns 5,986 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,798,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Gilbert & Cook Inc. raised its position in Norfolk Southern by 1.4% during the fourth quarter. Gilbert & Cook Inc. now owns 2,515 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $726,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in Norfolk Southern by 4.6% during the fourth quarter. Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 791 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $228,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. Confluence Wealth Services Inc. lifted its stake in Norfolk Southern by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. Confluence Wealth Services Inc. now owns 3,090 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $892,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Finally, ORG Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern by 75.0% in the 3rd quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 84 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 36 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.10% of the company's stock.

Norfolk Southern Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of NYSE NSC opened at $320.08 on Monday. Norfolk Southern Corporation has a 12 month low of $218.05 and a 12 month high of $323.37. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $299.61 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $293.70. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $78.37 billion, a PE ratio of 26.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.91 and a beta of 1.31.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.65 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.49 by $0.16. The company had revenue of $3 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.13 billion. Norfolk Southern had a return on equity of 18.30% and a net margin of 21.91%.The firm's revenue for the quarter was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.69 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Norfolk Southern Corporation will post 12.11 earnings per share for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 8th will be paid a dividend of $1.35 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 8th. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.7%. Norfolk Southern's payout ratio is presently 42.35%.

Norfolk Southern News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Norfolk Southern this week:

• Positive Sentiment: TD Cowen reiterated a Buy, citing cost discipline, productivity gains and improving intermodal trends that support longer‑term revenue and margin recovery. Norfolk Southern: Cost Discipline, Productivity Gains, and Improving Intermodal Trends Support Buy Rating
• Positive Sentiment: Norfolk Southern beat some sell‑side estimates (Zacks consensus) on Q1 earnings per share, showing operational resilience despite a tougher cost backdrop. Norfolk Southern (NSC) Q1 Earnings and Revenues Beat Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: The company declared a $1.35 quarterly dividend, supporting total shareholder return and income investors. Norfolk Southern Declares Quarterly Dividend
• Neutral Sentiment: Susquehanna raised its price target to $330 but kept a Neutral rating, signaling modest upside recognition without a conviction upgrade. Susquehanna adjusts price target on Norfolk Southern to $330 from $305; maintains neutral rating
• Neutral Sentiment: Company materials and the earnings‑call transcript provide operational detail (operating ratio, segment trends and slide deck) investors can use to model recovery timing. Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Fuel costs and other expense increases materially pressured profit; Reuters/Benzinga coverage notes first‑quarter profit slipped as fuel and incident/merger costs rose, creating near‑term margin headwinds. Norfolk Southern Is Managing 'Dramatic Rise In Fuel' Cost
• Negative Sentiment: Results were mixed versus the broader Street: revenue was essentially flat year‑over‑year and NSC missed some consensus figures, which helps explain intraday downward pressure despite selective beats. Norfolk Southern first-quarter profit slips as fuel and costs rise

Analyst Ratings Changes

NSC has been the topic of several recent research reports. Wall Street Zen upgraded Norfolk Southern to a "sell" rating in a research report on Saturday, April 4th. Benchmark reiterated a "hold" rating on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Wolfe Research lifted their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $350.00 to $355.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 7th. TD Cowen cut their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $314.00 to $313.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 7th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein decreased their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $322.00 to $313.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 31st. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and sixteen have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $315.61.

Norfolk Southern Company Profile

Norfolk Southern Corporation is a major U.S. freight railroad company that provides rail transportation and related logistics services. As a Class I carrier, the company operates an extensive network across the eastern United States and offers scheduled freight service for a broad range of industries. Its core operations include long-haul and regional rail freight transportation, intermodal services that move containers and trailers between rail and other modes, and terminal and switching services that support efficient rail shipments for industrial and port customers.

The company transports a variety of commodities, serving sectors such as coal and energy, automotive and automotive parts, chemicals, agriculture, metals and construction materials, and consumer goods.

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