Zacks Research Has Positive Outlook for NSC FY2025 Earnings

Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC) – Equities research analysts at Zacks Research lifted their FY2025 earnings estimates for Norfolk Southern in a research note issued on Monday, January 20th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now expects that the railroad operator will earn $12.98 per share for the year, up from their previous estimate of $12.92. The consensus estimate for Norfolk Southern’s current full-year earnings is $11.78 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Norfolk Southern’s Q4 2025 earnings at $3.32 EPS and Q4 2026 earnings at $3.31 EPS.

Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on NSC. TD Cowen increased their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $253.00 to $259.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Loop Capital raised their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $285.00 to $287.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. UBS Group raised their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $289.00 to $309.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $241.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, October 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $275.68.

Norfolk Southern Stock Performance

NYSE:NSC opened at $251.74 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21. The company has a market cap of $56.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.64, a P/E/G ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 1.34. Norfolk Southern has a fifty-two week low of $206.71 and a fifty-two week high of $277.60. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $249.90 and its two-hundred day moving average is $247.33.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 22nd. The railroad operator reported $3.25 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.11 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $3.10 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.08 billion. Norfolk Southern had a net margin of 19.85% and a return on equity of 20.25%. Norfolk Southern’s revenue was up 3.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.65 earnings per share.

Insider Buying and Selling at Norfolk Southern

In other news, Director Sameh Fahmy acquired 350 shares of Norfolk Southern stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 12th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $249.37 per share, for a total transaction of $87,279.50. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 10,350 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,580,979.50. This represents a 3.50 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.19% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Norfolk Southern

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of NSC. Highline Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Morse Asset Management Inc acquired a new position in Norfolk Southern during the 3rd quarter valued at about $30,000. HWG Holdings LP acquired a new position in Norfolk Southern during the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. Coastline Trust Co acquired a new position in Norfolk Southern during the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 3rd quarter valued at about $33,000. 75.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.