Captrust Financial Advisors Decreases Holdings in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Captrust Financial Advisors lowered its position in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 3.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 99,482 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 3,277 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors' holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $23,349,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in Norfolk Southern by 3.6% during the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 255,200 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $63,417,000 after purchasing an additional 8,844 shares during the period. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its holdings in Norfolk Southern by 54.4% in the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 193 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB raised its stake in Norfolk Southern by 8.3% during the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 18,940 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $4,451,000 after acquiring an additional 1,451 shares during the period. First Hawaiian Bank lifted its holdings in Norfolk Southern by 2.1% during the fourth quarter. First Hawaiian Bank now owns 21,409 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $5,025,000 after purchasing an additional 440 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 0.6% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 45,033 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $11,191,000 after purchasing an additional 270 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.10% of the company's stock.

Norfolk Southern Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE:NSC traded down $0.38 during trading on Friday, reaching $223.69. 718,623 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,212,557. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $225.86 and its 200-day simple moving average is $242.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.82. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 12-month low of $201.63 and a 12-month high of $277.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $50.43 billion, a PE ratio of 19.35, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.30.

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

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 2nd will be given a $1.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 2nd. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.41%. Norfolk Southern's payout ratio is presently 36.89%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

NSC has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $300.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Stephens upped their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Citigroup lowered their price target on Norfolk Southern from $298.00 to $259.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $285.00 to $260.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, UBS Group cut their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $275.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $266.10.

Norfolk Southern 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.