Sigma Planning Corp Acquires 1,817 Shares of CSX Co. (NASDAQ:CSX)

Sigma Planning Corp lifted its holdings in CSX Co. (NASDAQ:CSX) by 3.8% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 49,504 shares of the transportation company’s stock after buying an additional 1,817 shares during the quarter. Sigma Planning Corp’s holdings in CSX were worth $1,597,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in CSX. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. raised its stake in shares of CSX by 177.8% in the third quarter. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. now owns 750 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 480 shares during the last quarter. Morton Brown Family Wealth LLC bought a new position in CSX in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new position in CSX in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Center for Financial Planning Inc. raised its position in CSX by 205.7% in the 4th quarter. Center for Financial Planning Inc. now owns 1,070 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 720 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Addison Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of CSX by 348.5% during the third quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 1,045 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 812 shares during the last quarter. 73.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

CSX Price Performance

NASDAQ CSX opened at $32.30 on Monday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $32.63 and a 200 day simple moving average of $33.77. CSX Co. has a 52-week low of $31.43 and a 52-week high of $40.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 0.86. The stock has a market cap of $62.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.04, a PEG ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 1.23.

CSX (NASDAQ:CSX) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The transportation company reported $0.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.44 by ($0.02). CSX had a return on equity of 28.15% and a net margin of 23.95%. Analysts anticipate that CSX Co. will post 1.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

CSX Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.13 per share. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.61%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This is a boost from CSX’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.12. CSX’s dividend payout ratio is 29.05%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on CSX from $38.00 to $37.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Jefferies Financial Group raised CSX from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $37.00 price objective for the company in a report on Friday, January 10th. Susquehanna dropped their price target on shares of CSX from $40.00 to $39.00 and set a “positive” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Raymond James reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $37.00 price target (down from $38.00) on shares of CSX in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on shares of CSX from $40.00 to $38.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $37.16.

About CSX

CSX Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides rail-based freight transportation services. The company offers rail services; and transportation of intermodal containers and trailers, as well as other transportation services, such as rail-to-truck transfers and bulk commodity operations. It also transports chemicals, agricultural and food products, minerals, automotive, forest products, fertilizers, and metals and equipment; and coal, coke, and iron ore to electricity-generating power plants, steel manufacturers, and industrial plants, as well as exports coal to deep-water port facilities.