Sapient Capital LLC Takes $789,000 Position in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Sapient Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 3,339 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $789,000.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc bought a new position in Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter valued at $2,933,000. BKM Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern during the fourth quarter valued at about $1,444,000. Pathstone Family Office LLC boosted its holdings in Norfolk Southern by 200.1% during the third quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC now owns 16,077 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $3,198,000 after purchasing an additional 10,719 shares during the last quarter. ClearBridge Investments Ltd bought a new stake in Norfolk Southern in the 3rd quarter worth about $34,973,000. Finally, LPL Financial LLC increased its stake in Norfolk Southern by 9.8% in the 3rd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 187,259 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $36,877,000 after buying an additional 16,727 shares during the last quarter. 75.10% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Norfolk Southern Price Performance

NYSE NSC traded up $1.75 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $235.55. The company had a trading volume of 1,072,692 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,327,953. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 0.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $53.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.93, a PEG ratio of 3.30 and a beta of 1.30. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 52 week low of $183.09 and a 52 week high of $263.66. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $249.71 and a 200 day simple moving average of $233.98.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.49 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.58 by ($0.09). The firm had revenue of $3 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.05 billion. Norfolk Southern had a net margin of 11.76% and a return on equity of 19.61%. Norfolk Southern's revenue was down 4.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.32 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 11.62 earnings per share for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 3rd will be issued a $1.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 2nd. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.29%. Norfolk Southern's payout ratio is currently 86.96%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley lowered Norfolk Southern from an "equal weight" rating to an "underweight" rating and reduced their target price for the company from $185.00 to $175.00 in a report on Monday, January 29th. UBS Group reduced their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $302.00 to $294.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 25th. Loop Capital lifted their target price on Norfolk Southern from $261.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 18th. Benchmark reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $277.00 price target on shares of Norfolk Southern in a report on Thursday, April 25th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated a "sector perform" rating and set a $270.00 price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern in a report on Wednesday, April 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Norfolk Southern has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $262.32.

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.