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

Shares of CSX Co. (NASDAQ:CSX) have been given an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the twenty analysts that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $37.00.

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of CSX from $40.00 to $38.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup dropped their target price on CSX from $40.00 to $39.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on CSX from $36.00 to $34.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 24th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on CSX from $34.00 to $33.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company 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.

CSX Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ CSX opened at $30.65 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 1.23. CSX has a 1-year low of $30.55 and a 1-year high of $38.35. The company has a market capitalization of $58.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.12, a PEG ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 1.25. The business has a 50-day moving average of $32.45 and a 200-day moving average of $33.61.

CSX (NASDAQ:CSX) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The transportation company reported $0.42 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.44 by ($0.02). CSX had a return on equity of 28.15% and a net margin of 23.95%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that CSX will post 1.83 EPS 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 given a $0.13 dividend. This is a boost from CSX’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.12. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.70%. CSX’s dividend payout ratio is 29.05%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On CSX

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Avior Wealth Management LLC raised 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 purchasing an additional 293 shares in the last quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group lifted its position in CSX by 1.3% in the third quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group now owns 23,990 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $830,000 after purchasing an additional 306 shares during the period. Associated Banc Corp boosted its stake in CSX by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Associated Banc Corp now owns 55,534 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $1,918,000 after purchasing an additional 310 shares in the last quarter. Joel Isaacson & Co. LLC increased its position in shares of CSX by 2.4% during the 4th quarter. Joel Isaacson & Co. LLC now owns 13,036 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $421,000 after purchasing an additional 310 shares during the period. Finally, Patrick M Sweeney & Associates Inc. raised its stake in shares of CSX by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Patrick M Sweeney & Associates Inc. now owns 31,827 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $1,027,000 after buying an additional 313 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 73.57% of the company’s stock.

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.