Eliot Finkel Investment Counsel LLC Sells 850 Shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Eliot Finkel Investment Counsel LLC decreased its position in shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC) by 2.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 33,220 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 850 shares during the period. Norfolk Southern comprises approximately 5.0% of Eliot Finkel Investment Counsel LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 3rd biggest holding. Eliot Finkel Investment Counsel LLC’s holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $7,797,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the 4th quarter worth $125,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 154.5% in the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 16,986 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $3,987,000 after purchasing an additional 10,311 shares during the last quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 162.2% in the 4th quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 4,505 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,057,000 after purchasing an additional 2,787 shares during the last quarter. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC bought a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter worth about $39,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 15.9% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 3,966 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $926,000 after purchasing an additional 545 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.10% of the company’s stock.

Norfolk Southern Trading Up 1.6 %

Norfolk Southern stock opened at $245.96 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $246.07 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $250.85. The firm has a market capitalization of $55.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.28, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.35. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 52-week low of $206.71 and a 52-week high of $277.60. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16.

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 analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.97 by $0.07. Norfolk Southern had a net margin of 21.63% and a return on equity of 20.04%. Sell-side analysts expect that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 earnings per share for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.20%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. Norfolk Southern’s dividend payout ratio is currently 46.71%.

Insider Transactions at Norfolk Southern

In other Norfolk Southern 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 directly owns 10,350 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,580,979.50. This trade represents a 3.50 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere bought 607 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 31st. The stock was acquired at an average price of $259.86 per share, for a total transaction of $157,735.02. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 2,487 shares in the company, valued at approximately $646,271.82. This represents a 32.29 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Company insiders own 0.19% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently weighed in on NSC. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price 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. Loop Capital downgraded shares of Norfolk Southern from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $289.00 to $256.00 in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Benchmark reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $285.00 price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $276.11.

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.