Zacks Research Issues Optimistic Outlook for NSC Earnings

Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) - Equities research analysts at Zacks Research raised their Q3 2025 earnings per share estimates for Norfolk Southern in a research report issued on Wednesday, May 14th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now anticipates that the railroad operator will earn $3.40 per share for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of $3.39. The consensus estimate for Norfolk Southern's current full-year earnings is $13.00 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Norfolk Southern's Q1 2026 earnings at $3.02 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $3.87 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $3.59 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $14.04 EPS and Q1 2027 earnings at $3.24 EPS.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last announced 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 net margin of 21.63% and a return on equity of 20.04%. The company's revenue for the quarter was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.49 earnings per share.

NSC has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $300.00 to $290.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. UBS Group reduced 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, April 24th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a "market perform" rating and set a $255.00 price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $271.00 to $270.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $266.50.

Norfolk Southern Trading Up 0.9%

Shares of NYSE:NSC opened at $246.19 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $55.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.30, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.30. 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 has a 1 year low of $201.63 and a 1 year high of $277.60. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $226.19 and its 200-day moving average price is $242.41.

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Investors of record on Friday, May 2nd will be given a dividend of $1.35 per share. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.19%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 2nd. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio is currently 36.89%.

Institutional Trading of Norfolk Southern

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Empowered Funds LLC grew its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 9.3% during the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 18,189 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $4,308,000 after purchasing an additional 1,555 shares in the last quarter. MBB Public Markets I LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern during the first quarter worth about $320,000. Ascent Group LLC boosted its stake in Norfolk Southern by 32.0% during the first quarter. Ascent Group LLC now owns 5,213 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,235,000 after buying an additional 1,263 shares during the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association bought a new position in Norfolk Southern during the first quarter valued at approximately $1,210,000. Finally, Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Norfolk Southern by 11.6% during the first quarter. Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,977 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $468,000 after buying an additional 205 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.10% of the company's stock.

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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