Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund Raises Position in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund increased its holdings in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC) by 0.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 19,400 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 96 shares during the quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund’s holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $4,553,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of NSC. Highline Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern in the third quarter worth about $25,000. Financial Life Planners acquired a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern in the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Keystone Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern in the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust acquired a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern in the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Morse Asset Management Inc acquired a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern in the third quarter worth about $30,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.10% of the company’s stock.

Norfolk Southern Stock Down 1.4 %

NYSE:NSC opened at $241.77 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $54.74 billion, a PE ratio of 20.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.35. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $245.60 and a 200-day moving average of $250.77. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 52 week low of $206.71 and a 52 week high of $277.60. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16.

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

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 20th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th were issued a $1.35 dividend. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.23%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. Norfolk Southern’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.71%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently commented on NSC shares. Citigroup boosted their price target on Norfolk Southern from $302.00 to $316.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Barclays upped 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. 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 note on Thursday, January 30th. Loop Capital cut Norfolk Southern from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and cut their price objective for the company from $289.00 to $256.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $286.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $276.11.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Sameh Fahmy purchased 350 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 12th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $249.37 per share, with a total value of $87,279.50. Following the purchase, the director now owns 10,350 shares in the company, valued at $2,580,979.50. This trade represents a 3.50 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere purchased 607 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, January 31st. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $259.86 per share, with a total value of $157,735.02. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 2,487 shares in the company, valued at $646,271.82. This represents a 32.29 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate 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.