Taylor Financial Group Inc. Has $19.72 Million Holdings in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Taylor Financial Group Inc. reduced its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC) by 0.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 84,013 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 51 shares during the period. Norfolk Southern comprises 13.7% of Taylor Financial Group Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 2nd biggest position. Taylor Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $19,718,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of NSC. United Bank grew its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 2.4% during the 3rd quarter. United Bank now owns 8,875 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,205,000 after acquiring an additional 204 shares during the period. GSA Capital Partners LLP lifted its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 17.2% during the 3rd quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP now owns 2,639 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $656,000 after buying an additional 388 shares in the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 4.9% during the 3rd quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 16,845 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,186,000 after buying an additional 786 shares in the last quarter. Coastline Trust Co purchased a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Swiss National Bank lifted its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 670,600 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $166,644,000 after buying an additional 1,700 shares in the last quarter. 75.10% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere bought 607 shares of the company’s 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 owns 2,487 shares in the company, valued at approximately $646,271.82. This trade represents a 32.29 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.19% of the company’s stock.

Norfolk Southern Price Performance

Shares of Norfolk Southern stock opened at $234.42 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $53.08 billion, a PE ratio of 20.28, a price-to-earnings-growth 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. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $246.25 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $250.40.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) last announced its quarterly earnings results 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 net margin of 21.63% and a return on equity of 20.04%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 EPS for the current year.

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 20th. Shareholders 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 2.30%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. Norfolk Southern’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.71%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently commented on NSC. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They set a “buy” rating and a $293.00 price target on the stock. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and set a $285.00 price target on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Stephens increased their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $320.00 to $300.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Susquehanna lowered their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $285.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $276.95.

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.