Q2 EPS Estimates for Norfolk Southern Cut by Zacks Research

Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC) – Zacks Research lowered their Q2 2025 EPS estimates for shares of Norfolk Southern in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, May 14th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now expects that the railroad operator will post earnings of $3.22 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $3.26. The consensus estimate for Norfolk Southern’s current full-year earnings is $13.00 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Norfolk Southern’s Q4 2025 earnings at $3.29 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $12.59 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $3.56 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $14.86 EPS.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. BMO Capital Markets reissued a “market perform” rating and issued a $255.00 target price on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. UBS Group decreased their target price on Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $275.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Citigroup decreased their target price on Norfolk Southern from $298.00 to $259.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Norfolk Southern has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $266.50.

Norfolk Southern Stock Performance

Shares of Norfolk Southern stock opened at $246.19 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $55.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.30, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.30. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $226.19 and its 200 day moving average is $242.54. Norfolk Southern has a 1 year low of $201.63 and a 1 year high of $277.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.82.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.72 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $2.99 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.01 billion. Norfolk Southern had a return on equity of 20.04% and a net margin of 21.63%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.49 EPS.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Investors of record on Friday, May 2nd will be issued a $1.35 dividend. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.19%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 2nd. Norfolk Southern’s dividend payout ratio is 36.89%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Norfolk Southern

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NSC. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Norfolk Southern by 132.4% in the 4th quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC now owns 3,291 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $772,000 after acquiring an additional 1,875 shares in the last quarter. Signal Advisors Wealth LLC boosted its stake in Norfolk Southern by 5.4% in the 4th quarter. Signal Advisors Wealth LLC now owns 960 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $225,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the period. Accurate Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Norfolk Southern in the 4th quarter worth approximately $357,000. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Norfolk Southern by 6.5% in the 4th quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,499 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $586,000 after purchasing an additional 152 shares during the period. Finally, Park Avenue Securities LLC boosted its stake in Norfolk Southern by 57.4% in the 4th quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 6,149 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,443,000 after purchasing an additional 2,242 shares during the period. 75.10% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.