CSX Co. (NASDAQ:CSX) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Shares of CSX Co. (NASDAQ:CSX) have earned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the eighteen brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $38.78.

CSX has been the subject of several analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on shares of CSX from $40.00 to $39.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Loop Capital decreased their price target on CSX from $43.00 to $42.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. Evercore ISI dropped their price objective on CSX from $38.00 to $37.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Stephens decreased their target price on CSX from $41.00 to $39.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Finally, Susquehanna dropped their price target on shares of CSX from $42.00 to $40.00 and set a “positive” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 17th.

Institutional Trading of CSX

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Avior Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of CSX by 2.5% during the third quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,790 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $407,000 after buying an additional 293 shares during the last quarter. Lake Street Advisors Group LLC grew its position in CSX by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. Lake Street Advisors Group LLC now owns 17,246 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $595,000 after acquiring an additional 306 shares during the last quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group boosted its stake in shares of CSX by 1.3% during the third quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group now owns 23,990 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $830,000 after purchasing an additional 306 shares during the period. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of CSX by 0.9% in the third quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 35,401 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $1,222,000 after purchasing an additional 309 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Associated Banc Corp increased its stake in CSX by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. Associated Banc Corp now owns 55,534 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $1,918,000 after buying an additional 310 shares during the period. 73.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

CSX Stock Performance

Shares of CSX stock opened at $32.57 on Thursday. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $34.45 and its 200-day moving average price is $34.05. The stock has a market cap of $62.81 billion, a PE ratio of 17.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43. CSX has a 12 month low of $31.43 and a 12 month high of $40.12.

CSX (NASDAQ:CSX) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 16th. The transportation company reported $0.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.48 by ($0.02). The business had revenue of $3.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.68 billion. CSX had a net margin of 24.77% and a return on equity of 28.92%. CSX’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.42 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that CSX will post 1.84 EPS for the current fiscal year.

CSX Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 29th were paid a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 29th. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.47%. CSX’s payout ratio is currently 25.81%.

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.