Tower Research Capital LLC TRC Purchases 1,761 Shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its position in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 18.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 11,316 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 1,761 shares during the quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC's holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $2,656,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 3.6% in the 3rd 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. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Norfolk Southern by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,694,573 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,098,472,000 after acquiring an additional 113,648 shares during the period. Caprock Group LLC acquired a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter worth about $1,796,000. Grandview Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter worth about $918,000. Finally, Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC boosted its position in Norfolk Southern by 2.3% during the 4th quarter. Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC now owns 5,678 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,333,000 after acquiring an additional 128 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.10% of the company's stock.

Norfolk Southern Stock Performance

Shares of NSC stock traded down $5.03 during trading on Friday, reaching $221.65. The company had a trading volume of 1,306,890 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,254,654. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $230.35 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $244.92. The company has a market capitalization of $54.65 billion, a PE ratio of 19.17, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.30. Norfolk Southern Co. has a one year low of $201.63 and a one year high of $277.60.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.69 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.72 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $2.99 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.01 billion. Norfolk Southern had a return on equity of 20.04% and a net margin of 21.63%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 earnings per share for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Buying and Selling at Norfolk Southern

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. Benchmark restated a "buy" rating and set a $285.00 price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Bank of America decreased their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $292.00 to $272.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $275.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on Norfolk Southern from $285.00 to $260.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Loop Capital lowered Norfolk Southern from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and reduced their price target for the company from $289.00 to $256.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $266.10.

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.