CSX Co. (NASDAQ:CSX) Receives Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

CSX Co. (NASDAQ:CSX) has earned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the nineteen brokerages that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $37.16.

Several research firms have issued reports on CSX. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on shares of CSX from $39.00 to $37.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $38.00 price objective on shares of CSX in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Susquehanna decreased their price objective 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of CSX from $38.00 to $37.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on shares of CSX from $39.00 to $38.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 24th.

CSX Price Performance

CSX stock opened at $33.10 on Friday. CSX has a 1 year low of $31.43 and a 1 year high of $40.12. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $32.77 and a 200 day moving average price of $33.83. The company has a market cap of $63.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.49, a PEG ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 0.86.

CSX (NASDAQ:CSX) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The transportation company reported $0.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.44 by ($0.02). CSX had a net margin of 23.95% and a return on equity of 28.15%. Sell-side analysts predict that CSX will post 1.86 earnings per share for the current year.

CSX Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a $0.13 dividend. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.57%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This is a positive change from CSX’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.12. CSX’s dividend payout ratio is currently 26.82%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On CSX

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of CSX. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. lifted its holdings in CSX by 177.8% in the 3rd quarter. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. now owns 750 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 480 shares during the last quarter. Morton Brown Family Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of CSX in the third quarter worth approximately $31,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in CSX in the fourth quarter worth approximately $31,000. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new position in CSX in the fourth quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Center for Financial Planning Inc. grew its holdings in CSX by 205.7% during the fourth quarter. Center for Financial Planning Inc. now owns 1,070 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 720 shares during the last quarter. 73.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.