** Shares of railroad operator Norfolk Southern NSC.N fall ~1% to $303.97 premarket after UBS downgrades rating to "neutral" from "buy"
** UBS says Q4 results, 2026 commentary point to weaker yields and operating ratio compared with brokerage's assumptions
** Says Surface Transportation Board’s rejection of merger application with Union Pacific UNP.N suggests the deal process could create a greater overhang on NSC stock
** However, UBS raises PT to $342 from $320.00, representing a ~12% upside to the stock's last close
** Says PT raise based on brokerage's PT for UNP of $253 along with $89 share cash consideration offered by UNP to purchase NSC
** 7 brokerages rate NSC "buy" or higher and 16 "hold"; their median PT is $305 - LSEG-compiled data
** In 2025 NSC shares rose 23%
(Reporting by Aatreyee Dasgupta)
((Aatreyee.Dasgupta@thomsonreuters.com))
Comments