Global Retirement Partners LLC Sells 230 Shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Global Retirement Partners LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC) by 11.8% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,717 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 230 shares during the quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC’s holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $403,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust bought a new position in Norfolk Southern in the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund raised its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 63.4% in the 4th quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund now owns 10,939 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,567,000 after acquiring an additional 4,245 shares in the last quarter. Citizens & Northern Corp lifted its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Citizens & Northern Corp now owns 9,474 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,224,000 after purchasing an additional 206 shares during the period. Truist Financial Corp boosted its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 9.7% during the fourth quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 240,796 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $56,515,000 after purchasing an additional 21,335 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CIBC Asset Management Inc raised its holdings in Norfolk Southern by 2.3% in the fourth quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 44,743 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $10,501,000 after purchasing an additional 997 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 75.10% of the company’s stock.

Norfolk Southern Stock Performance

NSC opened at $247.84 on Monday. The company’s 50 day moving average is $245.46 and its 200 day moving average is $250.78. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The company has a market cap of $56.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.44, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.35. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 12-month low of $206.71 and a 12-month high of $277.60.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The railroad operator reported $3.04 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.97 by $0.07. Norfolk Southern had a net margin of 21.63% and a return on equity of 20.04%. On average, equities research analysts predict that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 EPS for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th were paid a $1.35 dividend. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.18%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. Norfolk Southern’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.71%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on NSC shares. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $320.00 to $300.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Susquehanna dropped their price target on Norfolk Southern from $285.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $275.00 to $286.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Stephens increased their target price on Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Loop Capital lowered Norfolk Southern from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $289.00 to $256.00 in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $276.11.

Insider Activity

In other Norfolk Southern news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere acquired 607 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 31st. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $259.86 per share, for a total transaction of $157,735.02. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 2,487 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $646,271.82. The trade was a 32.29 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Sameh Fahmy bought 350 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 12th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $249.37 per share, with a total value of $87,279.50. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 10,350 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,580,979.50. This represents a 3.50 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 0.19% of the company’s stock.

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.