Oxford Asset Management LLP Increases Holdings in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Oxford Asset Management LLP lifted its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 175.1% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,792 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 1,777 shares during the quarter. Oxford Asset Management LLP's holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $655,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Financial Life Planners purchased a new position in Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Keystone Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust acquired a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Vision Financial Markets LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, Atlantic Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. 75.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on NSC shares. Benchmark restated a "buy" rating and set a $285.00 price target on shares of Norfolk Southern in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $305.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Loop Capital lowered shares of Norfolk Southern from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and decreased their target price for the company from $289.00 to $256.00 in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $265.00 to $247.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $286.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $266.10.

Insider Buying and Selling at Norfolk Southern

In other Norfolk Southern news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere acquired 607 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 31st. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $259.86 per share, with a total value of $157,735.02. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,487 shares of the company's stock, valued at $646,271.82. The trade was a 32.29 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.06% of the company's stock.

Norfolk Southern Price Performance

NSC stock traded down $2.46 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $221.60. The company had a trading volume of 489,924 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,239,408. 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 1 year low of $201.63 and a 1 year high of $277.60. The company has a market capitalization of $49.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.20, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.30. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $228.81 and a 200-day moving average price of $244.44.

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

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 2nd will be given a dividend of $1.35 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 2nd. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.44%. Norfolk Southern's payout ratio is 36.89%.

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.