Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) Given New $286.00 Price Target at Royal Bank of Canada

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) had its price target hoisted by Royal Bank of Canada from $275.00 to $286.00 in a research note published on Thursday,Benzinga reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the railroad operator’s stock.

Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $276.00 to $291.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Loop Capital lifted their target price on Norfolk Southern from $285.00 to $287.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Norfolk Southern from $320.00 to $300.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Citigroup upped their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on Norfolk Southern from $241.00 to $245.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, October 11th. One equities 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 company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Norfolk Southern currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $277.74.

Norfolk Southern Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE:NSC opened at $257.50 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21. Norfolk Southern has a 12-month low of $206.71 and a 12-month high of $277.60. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $249.36 and a 200 day simple moving average of $248.69. The firm has a market cap of $58.26 billion, a PE ratio of 22.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 1.34.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The railroad operator reported $3.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.97 by $0.07. Norfolk Southern had a return on equity of 20.50% and a net margin of 21.63%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Norfolk Southern will post 13.17 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be paid a $1.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 7th. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.10%. Norfolk Southern’s dividend payout ratio is currently 46.71%.

Insider Activity at Norfolk Southern

In related news, Director Sameh Fahmy bought 350 shares of the firm’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 directly owns 10,350 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,580,979.50. The trade was a 3.50 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Company insiders own 0.19% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Norfolk Southern

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Hoge Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern in the fourth quarter worth about $238,000. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in Norfolk Southern by 5.3% in the 4th quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 3,824 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $897,000 after purchasing an additional 194 shares during the period. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC purchased a new position in Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter worth approximately $8,263,000. Principal Securities Inc. raised its stake in Norfolk Southern by 12.3% during the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 3,215 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $755,000 after purchasing an additional 351 shares during the period. Finally, bLong Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the fourth quarter valued at $235,000. 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.