Baird Financial Group Inc. Has $31.61 Million Holdings in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC)

Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its position in Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC) by 0.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 134,666 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 856 shares during the quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. owned 0.06% of Norfolk Southern worth $31,606,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of NSC. Financial Life Planners acquired a new position in Norfolk Southern during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Keystone Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust bought a new position in shares of Norfolk Southern in the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Vision Financial Markets LLC acquired a new position in Norfolk Southern during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Atlantic Private Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Norfolk Southern during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. 75.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Norfolk Southern Stock Down 0.9 %

NYSE NSC opened at $222.34 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $50.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.23, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.30. 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 50 day moving average of $227.57 and a 200-day moving average of $243.69. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 1-year low of $201.63 and a 1-year high of $277.60.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) last posted 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 return on equity of 20.04% and a net margin of 21.63%. The firm had revenue of $2.99 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.01 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.49 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement

The firm 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 dividend of $1.35 per share. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend 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%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NSC has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Bank of America lowered their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $292.00 to $272.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Citigroup reduced their target price on Norfolk Southern from $298.00 to $259.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and issued a $285.00 price target on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $275.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $266.10.

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.