Vident Advisory LLC Buys 2,000 Shares of Norfolk Southern Corporation $NSC

Key Points

• Vident Advisory LLC raised its stake in Norfolk Southern Corporation by 51.1% in Q1, acquiring an additional 2,000 shares for a total of 5,916 shares worth approximately $1.4 million.
• Several hedge funds have also increased their stakes in Norfolk Southern, with approximately 75.10% of the stock owned by institutional investors.
• Norfolk Southern announced a quarterly dividend of $1.35 per share, reflecting an annual yield of 1.9% and a payout ratio of 36.49%.

Vident Advisory LLC increased its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 51.1% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,916 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 2,000 shares during the quarter. Vident Advisory LLC's holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $1,401,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. WPG Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the first quarter worth about $27,000. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Putney Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Greenline Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, HWG Holdings LP acquired a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the first quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.10% of the company's stock.

Norfolk Southern Price Performance

NYSE:NSC traded down $2.23 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $277.53. 1,302,006 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,896,946. The company has a market capitalization of $62.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 1.29. Norfolk Southern Corporation has a 12 month low of $201.63 and a 12 month 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 business's 50-day simple moving average is $274.85 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $249.36.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 29th. The railroad operator reported $3.29 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.10 billion. Norfolk Southern has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Norfolk Southern Corporation will post 13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 20th. Investors of record on Friday, August 1st were paid a $1.35 dividend. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 1st. Norfolk Southern's payout ratio is presently 36.49%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have commented on NSC. Benchmark lowered shares of Norfolk Southern from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Susquehanna restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $260.00 price target (up previously from $250.00) on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research note on Tuesday, June 24th. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered shares of Norfolk Southern from a "moderate buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 29th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a "hold" rating and issued a $300.00 price target on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $288.00 to $305.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus 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.