First PREMIER Bank Trims Stock Position in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

First PREMIER Bank reduced its stake in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC) by 2.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,868 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 42 shares during the quarter. First PREMIER Bank’s holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $438,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC boosted its holdings in Norfolk Southern by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 112,037 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $26,295,000 after purchasing an additional 1,628 shares in the last quarter. Albion Financial Group UT acquired a new position in Norfolk Southern during the fourth quarter worth $116,000. Dakota Wealth Management lifted its holdings in Norfolk Southern by 13.3% in the fourth quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 8,161 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,915,000 after acquiring an additional 955 shares during the period. Simon Quick Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 6.5% during the 4th quarter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC now owns 1,102 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $259,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the period. Finally, Aspire Private Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern by 23.9% in the 4th quarter. Aspire Private Capital LLC now owns 1,261 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $296,000 after purchasing an additional 243 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.10% of the company’s stock.

Norfolk Southern Trading Down 0.0 %

Shares of NSC opened at $251.74 on Thursday. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $249.90 and its 200 day simple moving average is $247.33. Norfolk Southern Co. has a twelve month low of $206.71 and a twelve month high of $277.60. The company has a current ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21. The firm has a market capitalization of $56.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 1.34.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 22nd. The railroad operator reported $3.25 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.11 by $0.14. Norfolk Southern had a return on equity of 20.25% and a net margin of 19.85%. The business had revenue of $3.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.08 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.65 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 3.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 11.78 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Norfolk Southern

In related news, Director Sameh Fahmy bought 350 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 12th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $249.37 per share, for a total transaction of $87,279.50. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 10,350 shares in the company, valued at $2,580,979.50. This represents a 3.50 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.19% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $241.00 to $245.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, October 11th. Barclays raised their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $290.00 to $305.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on Norfolk Southern from $272.00 to $282.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Stephens restated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $263.00 price target on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Susquehanna decreased their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $285.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $275.68.

Norfolk Southern 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.