On Oct 24, major Wall Street analysts update their ratings for $Norfolk Southern (NSC.US)$, with price targets ranging from $175 to $291.
Morgan Stanley analyst Ravi Shanker maintains with a sell rating, and maintains the target price at $175.
BofA Securities analyst Ken Hoexter maintains with a buy rating, and maintains the target price at $291.
Barclays analyst Brandon Oglenski maintains with a buy rating, and adjusts the target price from $275 to $290.
Evercore analyst Jonathan Chappell maintains with a buy rating, and adjusts the target price from $276 to $274.
BMO Capital analyst Fadi Chamoun maintains with a hold rating, and maintains the target price at $275.
Furthermore, according to the comprehensive report, the opinions of $Norfolk Southern (NSC.US)$'s main analysts recently are as follows:
Norfolk Southern's recent earnings disclosure was comparatively positive. Despite various challenges anticipated to affect Q4 margins, there is a pathway identified for the company to significantly enhance its profitability by 2025, which is seen in relation to a compelling equity valuation.
The company is identified to have significant potential to enhance margins more so than other Class 1 rails in the near to medium term, considering it starts from a lower base compared to its competitors. The recorded 480 basis points of margin growth in the second quarter and an additional 170 basis points in the third quarter signify progress in the right direction. The company's recent increase in carloads, approximately 4% higher than the previous year, and the expected continuous narrowing of its operating ratio gap across Eastern network geographies supports this positive outlook.
Norfolk Southern's third-quarter adjusted earnings per share increased by 23% compared to the previous year, surpassing the consensus estimates. The company has also maintained its target for a 66% full-year operating ratio, despite a reduction in its 2024 revenue growth forecast to 1% year-over-year from an earlier projection of 3%. The expectation is that Norfolk Southern will enhance its earnings through productivity improvements.
Following the company's quarterly results, it's noted that the Chief Operating Officer is making significant progress in areas where the company has faced challenges in the past. The implementation of precision scheduled railroading and the pursuit of efficiency gains are contributing to margin enhancements. The company's confidence in achieving an operating ratio below 60 is supported by macroeconomic factors, even though the impressive operating ratio this quarter may have been influenced in part by volume and operating leverage advancements.
Norfolk Southern's recent quarterly earnings surpassed expectations, highlighting the company's effective cost-saving measures and indicating a significant structural cost turnaround. Comparatively, this quarter was particularly strong when measured against a competitor that experienced more challenges during the same period.
Here are the latest investment ratings and price targets for $Norfolk Southern (NSC.US)$ from 7 analysts:
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美东时间10月24日，多家华尔街大行更新了$诺福克南方 (NSC.US)$的评级，目标价介于175美元至291美元。
摩根士丹利分析师Ravi Shanker维持卖出评级，维持目标价175美元。
美银证券分析师Ken Hoexter维持买入评级，维持目标价291美元。
巴克莱银行分析师Brandon Oglenski维持买入评级，并将目标价从275美元上调至290美元。
Evercore分析师Jonathan Chappell维持买入评级，并将目标价从276美元下调至274美元。
BMO资本市场分析师Fadi Chamoun维持持有评级，维持目标价275美元。
此外，综合报道，$诺福克南方 (NSC.US)$近期主要分析师观点如下：
诺福克南方最近的收益披露相对积极。尽管预计将受到影响第四季度利润率的各种挑战，但已找到公司在2025年显著增强盈利能力的途径，这与引人注目的股本估值有关。
相比其他一级铁路公司，该公司被认为在近中期内有显著潜力提升利润率，因为它的起点较竞争对手更低。第二季度利润率增长480个基点和第三季度额外增长170个基点表明公司正在朝着正确方向取得进展。该公司最近车辆装载量增加了约4%，高于去年同期，并且预计将持续缩小东部网络地理位置的运营比例差距，支持这一积极前景。
诺福克南方第三季度调整后的每股收益同比增长23%，超过共识预期。该公司还保持其全年运营比率66%的目标，尽管其2024年营收增长预测已从之前的3%调降至1%。预计诺福克南方将通过提高生产力改善盈利能力。
根据公司季度业绩，首席运营官正在取得显著进展，解决了公司过去面临的挑战。实施精准计划铁路和追求效率提升正在促使利润率增强。尽管本季度出色的运营比率在一定程度上可能受到成交量和运营杠杆优势的影响，但公司对实现低于60的运营比率的信心得到了宏观经济因素的支持。
诺福克南方最近的季度收益超出预期，突显了公司有效的节约成本措施，并表明了显著的结构成本扭转。与在同一时期遇到更多挑战的竞争对手相比，本季度特别强劲。
以下为今日7位分析师对$诺福克南方 (NSC.US)$的最新投资评级及目标价：
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