CSX (NASDAQ:CSX) Reaches New 52-Week High – Still a Buy?

CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX) shares reached a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $42.59 and last traded at $42.47, with a volume of 10184444 shares. The stock had previously closed at $41.97.

CSX News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting CSX this week:

• Positive Sentiment: CSX completed a large data modernization program with Infosys (Topaz) and Microsoft (Fabric, Purview), giving CSX a real-time analytics and governed data foundation that could improve operational efficiency and decision-making. CSX Modernizes Data Platform with Infosys & Microsoft
• Positive Sentiment: BMO Capital raised its CSX price target to $41 (from $38), citing continued freight recovery potential — a modest analyst-driven support for the shares. BMO Capital Raises CSX Price Target, Sees Continued Freight Recovery
• Positive Sentiment: Consensus analyst coverage remains favorable at a “Moderate Buy” rating, which supports investor confidence in the name. CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation/market commentary: several pieces analyze whether CSX’s multi-year share gains leave it fairly valued today — useful for longer-term investors but not immediate catalysts. Is It Too Late To Consider CSX (CSX) After Strong Multi Year Share Price Gains
• Neutral Sentiment: Comparative analysis articles (CSX vs. peers like Knight-Swift) provide context on relative exposure to freight recovery but don’t introduce new company-specific catalysts. Which Is a Better Investment, CSX Corporation or Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. Stock?
• Negative Sentiment: River Road Asset Management disclosed a substantial reduction in its CSX position (a multi-million-share decrease), signaling institutional selling pressure that could weigh on sentiment. Fund Update: River Road Asset Management, LLC Just Disclosed New Holdings
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: CSX’s CAO recently sold roughly $3.74M of stock, which can be interpreted as a near-term negative signal to some investors. Insider Selling: CSX (NASDAQ:CSX) CAO Sells $3,740,400.00 in Stock
• Negative Sentiment: CSX CEO Steve Angel warned that flat global industrial production is limiting freight volume growth — a macro constraint that may cap near-term revenue/volume upside for railroads. CSX CEO: Flat industrial results holding back railroad freight growth

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Susquehanna restated a “neutral” rating and set a $39.00 target price on shares of CSX in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of CSX in a report on Monday, December 29th. Raymond James Financial raised their target price on CSX from $40.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Argus lifted their target price on CSX from $40.00 to $42.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, Rothschild & Co Redburn increased their price target on shares of CSX from $39.00 to $42.50 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 30th. Nineteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $39.77.

CSX Price Performance

The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $37.90 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $35.95. The firm has a market capitalization of $78.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 0.81.

CSX (NASDAQ:CSX) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 22nd. The transportation company reported $0.39 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.41 by ($0.02). The business had revenue of $3.51 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.59 billion. CSX had a return on equity of 23.88% and a net margin of 20.50%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down .9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.42 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that CSX Corporation will post 1.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Stephen Fortune sold 31,456 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.65, for a total value of $1,215,774.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 82,034 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,170,614.10. The trade was a 27.72% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CAO Diana B. Sorfleet sold 90,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.56, for a total value of $3,740,400.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 165,613 shares in the company, valued at $6,882,876.28. The trade was a 35.21% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 188,123 shares of company stock worth $7,454,854 in the last three months. Insiders own 0.35% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On CSX

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of CSX. Cbre Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC raised its holdings in shares of CSX by 81.9% during the 3rd quarter. Cbre Investment Management Listed Real Assets LLC now owns 944,946 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $33,555,000 after buying an additional 425,395 shares in the last quarter. Pinebridge Investments LLC bought a new position in CSX during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $5,979,000. Reaves W H & Co. Inc. purchased a new position in shares of CSX during the third quarter worth approximately $5,326,000. Cohen & Steers Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of CSX by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Cohen & Steers Inc. now owns 8,282,107 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $300,226,000 after acquiring an additional 98,977 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allstate Corp boosted its stake in shares of CSX by 105.7% in the 4th quarter. Allstate Corp now owns 136,869 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $4,962,000 after purchasing an additional 70,326 shares in the last quarter. 73.57% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

CSX Company Profile

CSX Corporation is a leading North American transportation company that provides rail-based freight services and supply-chain solutions. Its operating subsidiary, CSX Transportation, moves a wide range of goods for customers across multiple industries, using a combination of long-haul rail service, intermodal operations and terminal and yard services. The company focuses on delivering efficient, reliable freight transportation between major production centers, consumption markets and port gateways.

CSX’s freight portfolio includes intermodal containers and trailers, bulk commodities, industrial products and specialized unit trains.