Robert W. Baird Boosts Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) Price Target to $300.00

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) had its price target raised by investment analysts at Robert W. Baird from $255.00 to $300.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a "neutral" rating on the railroad operator's stock. Robert W. Baird's price objective would suggest a potential upside of 7.55% from the company's current price.

A number of other brokerages have also recently issued reports on NSC. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their target price on Norfolk Southern from $271.00 to $270.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $272.00 to $282.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on Norfolk Southern from $265.00 to $247.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Citigroup lowered shares of Norfolk Southern from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and increased their price target for the company from $259.00 to $288.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. Finally, Barclays cut their price target on Norfolk Southern from $305.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $280.50.

Norfolk Southern Trading Up 0.6%

Norfolk Southern stock traded up $1.57 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $278.95. 952,929 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,269,209. The stock has a market capitalization of $62.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.05, a PEG ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.31. Norfolk Southern has a 12 month low of $201.63 and a 12 month high of $288.50. The company has a quick ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $252.39 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $241.81.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.72 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $2.99 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.01 billion. Norfolk Southern had a return on equity of 19.65% and a net margin of 27.40%. Norfolk Southern's quarterly revenue was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.49 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that Norfolk Southern will post 13 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Norfolk Southern by 1.7% during the second quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,429 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $622,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. raised its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 30.5% in the 2nd quarter. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. now owns 184 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL boosted its stake in Norfolk Southern by 16.9% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 304 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $71,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Norfolk Southern by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 3,097 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $727,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Canandaigua National Trust Co of Florida boosted its stake in Norfolk Southern by 4.9% during the 1st quarter. Canandaigua National Trust Co of Florida now owns 956 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $226,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. 75.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.

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