Two Sigma Securities LLC Sells 1,676 Shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Two Sigma Securities LLC lessened its holdings in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC) by 58.1% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,211 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 1,676 shares during the quarter. Two Sigma Securities LLC’s holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $284,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Financial Life Planners bought a new position in Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Keystone Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust bought a new position in Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Vision Financial Markets LLC bought a new position in Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Atlantic Private Wealth LLC bought a new position in Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Institutional investors own 75.10% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere bought 607 shares of Norfolk Southern stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 31st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $259.86 per share, with a total value of $157,735.02. Following 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 acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.06% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have weighed in on the stock. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $305.00 to $290.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Citigroup decreased their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $298.00 to $259.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. BMO Capital Markets reissued a “market perform” rating and set a $255.00 target price on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research report on Thursday. Benchmark reissued a “buy” rating and set a $285.00 target price on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $292.00 to $272.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $266.10.

Norfolk Southern Stock Performance

NYSE NSC opened at $221.83 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $229.81 and a 200 day simple moving average of $244.73. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 12-month low of $201.63 and a 12-month 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. The company has a market cap of $54.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.19, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.30.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.72 by ($0.03). Norfolk Southern had a net margin of 21.63% and a return on equity of 20.04%. The company had revenue of $2.99 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.01 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.49 earnings per share. Norfolk Southern’s revenue was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 2nd will be paid a $1.35 dividend. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 2nd. Norfolk Southern’s payout ratio is 36.89%.

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.