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Adams Diversified Equity Fund Inc. grew its position in CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX – Free Report) by 8.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 516,000 shares of the transportation company’s stock after acquiring an additional 39,000 shares during the period. Adams Diversified Equity Fund Inc.’s holdings in CSX were worth $23,999,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of CSX. Archer Investment Corp acquired a new position in CSX in the second quarter worth $26,000. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in shares of CSX during the second quarter worth $27,000. Pin Oak Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of CSX in the second quarter valued at $29,000. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of CSX in the second quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Arlington Trust Co LLC increased its stake in shares of CSX by 58.0% in the second quarter. Arlington Trust Co LLC now owns 681 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. 73.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

More CSX News Here are the key news stories impacting CSX this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q3 earnings and revenue beat expectations. CSX reported $0.57 in adjusted EPS versus the $0.53 consensus estimate and $4.02 billion in revenue versus expectations of $3.96 billion. Revenue increased 12% year over year, while net earnings reached $1.05 billion. CSX increases earnings and revenue Positive Sentiment: Volumes and margins improved materially. Total volume rose 5%, with intermodal volume up 7% to a record level. Operating income increased 44% to $1.57 billion, and the operating margin expanded to 39.1%. Management also cited a 3% reduction in nonfuel costs, supporting the view that the improvement was not solely driven by fuel surcharges. CSX: 3 Key Takeaways for Long-Term Investors Positive Sentiment: Management offered constructive growth targets. CSX projects high-single-digit revenue growth in 2026 and is targeting more than 350 basis points of operating-margin expansion. Higher rail volumes may also benefit CSX relative to trucking companies as elevated fuel costs pressure truck transportation. CSX projects 2026 revenue growth Positive Sentiment: Analysts raised their estimates. Bank of America increased its price target to $57 from $55 with a Buy rating, while JPMorgan raised its target to $58 and maintained an Overweight rating. CSX Analysts Boost Their Forecasts Neutral Sentiment: CSX announced the elimination of more than 100 management positions, which could improve efficiency but may also signal ongoing cost-control efforts. CSX eliminates management positions Negative Sentiment: Risks include valuation concerns and conflicting analyst views: Morgan Stanley maintained a $32 Sell target, while Raymond James reduced its target to $53. A law firm is also investigating potential class-action claims related to a reported customer-data breach. CSX Sell Rating Maintained Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley set a $32.00 price target on shares of CSX and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Monday, July 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of CSX from $57.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday. Bank of America raised their price objective on shares of CSX from $55.00 to $57.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday. Argus set a $56.00 target price on shares of CSX in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on shares of CSX from $49.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Eighteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $51.83. Read Our Latest Research Report on CSX

CSX Price Performance Shares of CSX stock opened at $51.67 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $48.69 and a 200 day moving average price of $47.59. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. The firm has a market cap of $95.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.08, a PEG ratio of 2.28 and a beta of 1.21. CSX Corporation has a 12 month low of $33.63 and a 12 month high of $53.60.

CSX (NASDAQ:CSX – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 21st. The transportation company reported $0.57 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.53 by $0.04. CSX had a return on equity of 26.31% and a net margin of 23.97%. The firm had revenue of $4.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.96 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.44 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 12.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that CSX Corporation will post 1.99 EPS for the current year.

CSX Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 30th will be given a dividend of $0.14 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 30th. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. CSX’s payout ratio is currently 32.37%.

CSX Profile (Free Report)

CSX Corporation is a transportation company whose primary business is freight railroading through its CSX Transportation subsidiary. The company operates an extensive rail network across the eastern United States, serving major industrial centers, population hubs, ports and distribution markets.

CSX transports a broad range of products, including chemicals, agricultural and food products, forest products, minerals, metals, automotive goods and other manufactured merchandise. Its services also include intermodal transportation, which combines rail service with trucks and containers, as well as the movement of coal and other bulk commodities.

The company traces its roots to the formation of CSX Corporation in 1980 through the merger of Chessie System and Seaboard Coast Line Industries.

Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than CSX Is Texas Instruments Setting Up for Its Next Big Breakout? Pegasystems’ Q3 Miss Exposed the Problem Standing Between AI and Cash Flow Lam Research’s Earnings Beat Wasn’t the Real Story—Its 2027 Outlook Was Tesla’s Flying-Car Hype Hits an Earnings Reality Check Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CSX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX – Free Report).

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On October 22, 2026, CSX Corp CSX shares rose by 6.8% to a current price of $51.67. This increase comes within a 52-week trading range of $33.63 to $53.60, showing significant price movement over the period.

GF Value™ verdict: CSX is currently priced at $51.67, which represents a 37.8% premium over the GF Value™ estimate of $37.50, indicating that the stock is overvalued.GF Score™: CSX has a GF Score™ of 90/100, highlighting it as a strong investment with standout characteristics in profitability and momentum.Notable signal: The momentum rank is at 10/10, reflecting strong recent performance in the stock price.Is CSX Overvalued or Undervalued?Based on the current price of $51.67, CSX Corp is identified as overvalued according to the GF Value™, which estimates the fair value at $37.50. This creates a significant margin of safety issue, as investors may be paying considerably more for the stock than its intrinsic value suggests. The GF Valuation label categorizes CSX as "Significantly Overvalued," a critical risk for potential investors given the disparity between market price and intrinsic value.

The GF Value™ is derived from a comprehensive analysis of historical trading multiples, the company's past growth, and future performance expectations. The substantial overvaluation indicates that buyers may be entering at a high risk of future price correction, suggesting caution for potential investors.

How Does CSX's Valuation Compare to Its History?MetricCurrentHistoricalP/E (TTM)29.8x18.9xForward P/E22.6xN/ACSX's current P/E ratio of 29.8x is 58% above its 5-year median of 18.9x, indicating that the stock is trading at a significantly higher valuation compared to its historical averages. This P/E analysis aligns with the GF Value™ verdict of being overvalued, reinforcing the assessment that investors may be paying a premium that is not supported by historical performance metrics.

What Does CSX's GF Score™ Tell Us?The GF Score™ is a composite score that evaluates a company across various financial metrics to provide insight into its overall investment quality. CSX's score of 90/100 indicates a strong position in the market, particularly in profitability and momentum, but with a valuation rank that lags behind.

MetricRatingGF Score™90Financial Strength5/10Profitability10/10Growth8/10Valuation5/10Momentum10/10The strongest areas for CSX are its profitability, ranking a perfect 10/10, indicating robust earnings performance. Conversely, the financial strength and valuation sub-ranks of 5/10 suggest potential vulnerabilities. The high momentum score reflects strong recent price performance, but the valuation metrics raise caution about future price corrections.

What Are Gurus and Insiders Doing with CSX?Currently, 14 gurus hold positions in CSX, with 6 increasing their stakes and 7 reducing their holdings in recent quarters. This mixed activity indicates a cautious sentiment among institutional investors, as some have confidence in the company while others are pulling back.

In terms of insider activity, over the past 12 months, insiders bought $1.0 million worth of shares but sold $17.7 million, resulting in a net selling of $16.7 million. This pattern of significant net selling by insiders could suggest a lack of confidence in the stock’s current valuation or future prospects, adding another layer of caution for potential investors.

What This Means for InvestorsOverall, CSX appears to be significantly overvalued based on the GF Value™ assessment, which indicates that the stock is priced at a substantial premium compared to its estimated fair value. The elevated P/E ratio further supports this conclusion, suggesting that potential investors should proceed with caution. For more detailed insights, visit the CSX Corp CSX stock page and explore the GF Value™ page for a deeper understanding of the valuation metrics.

Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is CSX's GF Score™?

CSX has a GF Score™ of 90/100, indicating strong investment quality with excellent performance in profitability and momentum.

Is CSX overvalued or undervalued?

CSX is currently overvalued, with a GF Value™ estimate of $37.50 compared to its market price of $51.67.

What is CSX's P/E ratio?

CSX's P/E ratio is 29.8x, which is significantly higher than its 5-year median of 18.9x, indicating that the stock is trading at a much higher valuation than its historical average.

This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Disclosures
I/We may personally own shares in some of the companies mentioned above. However, those positions are not material to either the company or to my/our portfolios.

Key Takeaways CSX's Q3 earnings surged 29.5% to 57 cents per share, beating estimates by 9.6%, while revenues rose 12%.CSX's merchandise revenues grew 11%, while intermodal and coal revenues climbed 20% and 10%, respectively.CSX's operating margin rose 420 basis points to 39.1%, with full-year expansion expected to exceed 350 bps.
CSX Corporation (CSX - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2026 earnings of 57 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 52 cents by 9.6%. Earnings increased 29.5% year over year from the prior-year adjusted figure of 44 cents per share, which excluded a goodwill impairment charge.

Total revenues increased 12% year over year to $4.02 billion, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.95 billion by 1.7%. Higher fuel surcharge revenues, volume growth and improved pricing across merchandise, intermodal and coal supported the top line. Total volumes increased 5% year over year.

CSX's Merchandise Revenues Gain on Pricing and VolumesMerchandise revenues increased 11% year over year to $2.45 billion. Merchandise volumes rose 3% year over year, while revenues per unit improved 8% to $3,613. Higher fuel surcharges and favorable contract renewals contributed to revenue growth.

Chemicals revenues increased 13% year over year to $790 million, supported by higher shipments of petcoke, waste, plastics and crude oil. Agricultural and food products revenues also rose 13% year over year to $430 million, benefiting from increased grain and feed ingredient shipments.

Metals and equipment revenues surged 19% year over year to $267 million, driven by higher steel, equipment and aluminum shipments. Forest products revenues advanced 12% year over year to $277 million, while automotive revenues improved 6% despite lower shipments. Fertilizer revenues declined 6% year over year to $118 million due to weaker demand.

CSX Sees Strong Intermodal and Coal GrowthIntermodal revenues increased 20% year over year to $634 million. Segment volumes advanced 7% to 820,000 units, while revenues per unit grew 13% year over year to $773.

Domestic intermodal shipments benefited from customer wins, new service offerings and tightening trucking capacity. Higher fuel prices also supported revenues per unit, partially offsetting a slight decline in international shipments.

Coal revenues increased 10% year over year to $537 million. Volumes improved 2% year over year to 188,000 units, while revenues per unit rose 7% to $2,856. Higher export shipments of metallurgical and thermal coal, supported by production from reopened mines, helped offset softer domestic utility demand.

Trucking revenues increased 10% year over year to $227 million, while other revenues grew 7% to $166 million.

CSX Controls Expenses Despite Higher Fuel CostsTotal operating expenses declined 2% year over year to $2.45 billion. The reduction reflected the absence of a $164 million goodwill impairment charge recorded in the prior-year quarter, along with operating cost savings.

Fuel expenses surged 60.5% year over year to $451 million as locomotive fuel prices increased 67% to $4.24 per gallon. Lower fuel consumption and improved efficiency partially offset the impact of higher prices.

Labor and fringe expenses increased 2% year over year to $834 million, driven by higher incentive compensation and wage inflation. Purchased services and other expenses declined 10% to $657 million, benefiting from efficiency initiatives and lower network disruption-related costs.

Depreciation and amortization expenses fell 3% year over year to $413 million, while equipment and other rents increased 7% to $92 million.

CSX Posts Higher Operating Income and MarginsOperating income increased 44.4% year over year to $1.57 billion. Compared with the prior-year adjusted operating income of $1.25 billion, the increase was 25.5%.

Operating margin expanded to 39.1% from the prior-year adjusted margin of 34.9%, representing an improvement of 420 basis points.

Net earnings increased 51.6% to $1.05 billion from reported net earnings of $694 million a year earlier. Excluding the prior-year impairment, net earnings improved 28.6% from $818 million.

CSX's Safety Improves Despite Service ChallengesThe Federal Railroad Administration personal injury frequency index improved 17% to 0.97, while the train accident rate declined 5% to 2.77. Fuel efficiency improved 2% to 0.92 gallons per 1,000 gross ton-miles.

However, average train velocity declined 2% to 18.6 miles per hour, while dwell time increased 12% to 10.6 hours. Carload trip plan performance decreased to 73% from 83%, reflecting continued service challenges.

CSX Generates Strong Cash FlowNet cash provided by operating activities totaled $4.22 billion during the first nine months of 2026, compared with $3.23 billion in the year-ago period. Free cash flow before dividends increased to $2.65 billion from $1.07 billion.

CSX exited September with cash and cash equivalents of $1.22 billion, compared with $670 million at year-end 2025. Long-term debt stood at $17.1 billion, compared with $18.17 billion at year-end.

The company repurchased $1.06 billion of shares and paid $779 million in dividends during the first nine months.

CSX's 2026 GuidanceFor full-year 2026, CSX expects high-single-digit revenue growth. Operating margin expansion is anticipated to exceed 350 basis points. Management expects free cash flow growth of more than 80%, while total capital expenditures are projected to remain below $2.4 billion.

CSX has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Q3 Performance of Other Transportation CompaniesDelta Air Lines (DAL - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2026 earnings (excluding 57 cents from non-recurring items) of $1.72 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.80 by 4.44%. Earnings increased year over year despite sharply higher fuel costs and rising non-fuel expenses.

Adjusted revenues climbed 16% year over year to $17.59 billion but missed the consensus estimate of $17.74 billion by 0.9%. Broad demand strength and healthy yields lifted adjusted total revenue per available seat mile, or TRASM, by 15%, while premium and diversified revenue streams continued to expand.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2026 earnings of $1.82 per share, up 3.4% from $1.76 a year ago. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.81 by 0.6%.

Operating revenues climbed 20.4% year over year to $3.68 billion and surpassed the consensus mark of $3.56 billion by 3.2%. Stronger pricing, an 8% increase in Intermodal loads and higher brokerage volumes supported growth. However, elevated driver-related expenses, fuel costs and insurance claims pressured profitability.

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.54 per share, down 8.6% year over year and below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.60 by 2.3%. Higher fuel expenses weighed on profitability despite strong revenue growth.

Operating revenues rose 17.4% to $17.88 billion but missed the consensus mark of $17.91 billion by 0.2%. A 15.9% increase in total revenue per available seat mile or TRASM, supported the top line, driven by strength across premium, loyalty and contracted business revenues.

Earnings Per Share: $0.57, up 30% year over year (adjusted).Revenue: Up 12% year over year, driven by higher fuel surcharge, 5% volume growth, and pricing gains

On its third-quarter 2026 earnings call, held on Oct. 21, 2026, CSX (CSX +0.67%) announced a 30% increase in earnings per share over last year's adjusted result. Operational efficiency and steady volume growth continue to expand profit margins for long-term shareholders. Three things management said stand out.

1. Nonfuel Cost Reductions Drive Profit Margins HigherManagement reduced nonfuel operating expenses while moving more freight, expanding operating margin by over four percentage points. Better asset utilization across locomotives and lower reliance on external contractors helped offset broader inflation.

The team handled 5% more volume in the third quarter, while reducing nonfuel costs by 3%.
-- Kevin S. Boone, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer2. Highway Conversions Fuel Record Intermodal VolumesTight truck capacity and elevated diesel prices are forcing shippers to move freight from highways to rail networks. CSX saw intermodal shipments -- freight moved in standardized containers using multiple transport modes -- reach an all-time peak.

Total intermodal volume was up 7% year-over-year, and reached a new all time record.
-- Maryclare Kenney, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer3. Surgical Pricing Power Offsets Market InflationDiscipline during contract renewals helps protect operating margins against persistent cost increases. Commercial teams are accelerating discretionary price increases on merchandise shipments as service consistency improves across the network.

We still expect for this year our same store sales pricing to be stronger than it was last year. And I would tell you, we have seen discretionary pricing on the merchandise accelerate as we have moved throughout the course of this year.
-- Maryclare Kenney, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial OfficerLooking AheadFreight momentum is building, and CSX is expanding track infrastructure to handle incoming volume. Full double-stack clearances -- stacking containers two high on railcars -- and direct connections to new industrial facilities provide structural advantages over trucking. Management is watching conductor trainee staffing and pricing discipline.

I am confident that we will achieve full year operating margin expansion of more than 350 basis points.
-- Stephen F. Angel, President and Chief Executive OfficerSystemwide efficiency gains position the railroad to compound long-term shareholder value.

Together, we have made great progress toward our goal of being best in class as we build a high performance culture that embraces continuous improvement.
-- Stephen F. Angel, President and Chief Executive OfficerThe Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

CSX (CSX - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.57 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.52 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.44 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +9.62%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this freight railroad would post earnings of $0.5 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.54, delivering a surprise of +8%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.

CSX, which belongs to the Zacks Transportation - Rail industry, posted revenues of $4.02 billion for the quarter ended September 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.66%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $3.59 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

CSX shares have added about 32.6% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 12.7%.

What's Next for CSX?While CSX has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for CSX was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.50 on $3.95 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $1.99 on $15.26 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Transportation - Rail is currently in the top 26% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

One other stock from the same industry, Canadian National (CNI - Free Report) , is yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2026. The results are expected to be released on October 30.

This railroad is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.49 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +12%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1% lower over the last 30 days to the current level.

Canadian National's revenues are expected to be $3.27 billion, up 8.1% from the year-ago quarter.

This Corner of the Market Is Outperforming the Benchmark—And It's Not AICSX NASDAQ: CSX reported third-quarter earnings per share of $0.57, up 30% from the prior year’s adjusted result, as volume growth, pricing gains and lower non-fuel costs helped lift profitability.

President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Angel said revenue rose 12% during the quarter, while total volume increased 5%. Operating margin reached 39.1%, representing a 420-basis-point improvement from the prior year’s adjusted result. The company also said it generated substantial free-cash-flow growth through productivity initiatives.

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MarketBeat Week in Review – 08/18 - 08/22“Our volume grew 5% as more customers turned to our railroad to safely and reliably move their goods,” Angel said. “The progress we continue to make on productivity has helped drive substantial growth in profitability, earnings, and free cash flow.”

Safety, Efficiency and Service Progress
Angel said CSX’s Federal Railroad Administration injury rate declined 17% year over year in the third quarter, while its accident rate fell 4%. He said the company continued to focus on reducing risk, increasing awareness and improving communication across its operations.

This Railroad Stock Is Chugging Along to a New All-Time HighThe company also cited record fuel efficiency, which Angel said was the best ever achieved by CSX and the best reported by a U.S. railroad. Workforce efficiency, measured by gross ton miles per employee, improved substantially from a year earlier.

Service metrics improved sequentially, including velocity, dwell time and customer switching performance. Carload trip-plan compliance improved modestly from the prior quarter, though intermodal trip-plan compliance declined. Angel said October service performance had started strongly, with velocity averaging more than 19 miles per hour and dwell approaching 10 hours.

CSX is using closer coordination between its commercial and operating organizations to better position crews and locomotives for demand, Angel said. The company is also using technology, including autonomous track inspection cars, to improve planning and reduce delays.

Angel also recognized Mike Cory, who recently announced his retirement after 45 years in the railroad industry. Casey Albright, who oversees network operations and service design, and Doug Ryhorchuk, who oversees engineering, mechanical and transportation, will report directly to Angel going forward.

Costs and Fourth-Quarter Outlook
Chief Financial Officer Kevin Boone said higher fuel surcharge revenue, volume growth and pricing gains in merchandise, intermodal and coal supported the 12% revenue increase. He noted that third-quarter 2025 results included a $164 million goodwill impairment charge. Excluding that item, operating income increased 25% in the latest quarter.

Non-fuel costs declined 3% despite the 5% increase in volume. Labor expense rose $19 million, as productivity gains and lower severance expense mostly offset more than $90 million in higher incentive compensation and inflation-related costs, Boone said.

Purchase services and other expenses declined 10%, reflecting improved utilization of locomotives and vehicles, reduced external labor, lower general and administrative costs, maintenance efficiencies and the absorption of intermodal volume growth.

Boone said CSX expects normal seasonal cost increases in the fourth quarter, including higher purchase services and other costs and lower fuel efficiency during winter months. Labor costs are also expected to rise sequentially due to seasonal factors. The company expects fourth-quarter year-over-year operating-margin expansion of more than 350 basis points.

For 2026, CSX raised its revenue-growth outlook to the high-single-digit percentage range, from a prior expectation of mid- to high-single-digit growth. It maintained guidance for full-year operating-margin expansion of more than 350 basis points, capital expenditures below $2.4 billion and free-cash-flow growth of more than 80%.

Intermodal Leads Volume Growth
Chief Commercial Officer Maryclare Kenney said intermodal remained the largest contributor to volume growth. Total intermodal volume rose 7% year over year to a record level, while intermodal revenue increased 20% and revenue per unit climbed 13%. Nearly all of the revenue-per-unit increase came from fuel surcharge, she said.

Domestic intermodal drove the segment’s growth, while international intermodal volumes were roughly flat from a year earlier. Kenney attributed domestic demand to tight trucking capacity, high truck rates and elevated diesel prices, as well as new service offerings through Birmingham, Myrtlewood and Baltimore.

She said CSX expects further benefits as customers enter the 2027 bid season with full double-stack operations available through the company’s I-95 corridor via Baltimore. The company is also working with channel partners and shippers to identify freight that can be converted from truck to rail.

Merchandise revenue increased 11%, as volume rose 3%. Metals volume climbed 12%, supported by steel demand in infrastructure and energy markets and output growth from new steel mills served by CSX. Chemicals volume increased 7%, aided by conversions and demand for waste and petroleum products.

Fertilizer was the weakest merchandise category, with volume down 13%. Kenney cited supply constraints limiting phosphate shipments as well as low crop prices that have affected fertilizer affordability and demand.

Coal and 2027 Planning
Coal revenue increased 10%, driven by a 2% volume increase and a 7% gain in revenue per unit. Export coal volume rose 7% as mine output increased, while domestic coal volumes declined modestly during a mild summer and with natural-gas prices around $3, Kenney said.

Looking toward 2027, Angel said the company has identified more than 100 initiatives that are expected to contribute to productivity efforts next year. He said 2027 productivity gains may not match the scale of 2026 but should still be significant.

CSX also plans to add modestly to its train and engine employee pipeline to support growth, while continuing to size its workforce for a safe, reliable and efficient railroad. Angel said the company is investing in capacity where needed, including in Atlanta, where volume has increased 50% over the past three years and CSX is expanding switching and processing capacity by 50%.

About CSX (NASDAQ:CSX)CSX Corporation is a transportation company whose primary business is freight railroading through its CSX Transportation subsidiary. The company operates an extensive rail network across the eastern United States, serving major industrial centers, population hubs, ports and distribution markets.

CSX transports a broad range of products, including chemicals, agricultural and food products, forest products, minerals, metals, automotive goods and other manufactured merchandise. Its services also include intermodal transportation, which combines rail service with trucks and containers, as well as the movement of coal and other bulk commodities.

The company traces its roots to the formation of CSX Corporation in 1980 through the merger of Chessie System and Seaboard Coast Line Industries.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

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The railroad operator reported a profit of $1.05 billion and revenue of $4.02 billion in the third quarter, driven by fuel surcharges and higher freight volumes.

Wall Street analysts expect CSX (CSX - Free Report) to post quarterly earnings of $0.52 per share in its upcoming report, which indicates a year-over-year increase of 18.2%. Revenues are expected to be $3.95 billion, up 10.2% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. This reflects how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reevaluated their initial estimates during this timeframe.

Prior to a company's earnings release, it is of utmost importance to factor in any revisions made to the earnings projections. These revisions serve as a critical gauge for predicting potential investor behaviors with respect to the stock. Empirical studies consistently reveal a strong link between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While investors typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as a yardstick to evaluate the company's quarterly performance, scrutinizing analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics can offer a more comprehensive perspective.

With that in mind, let's delve into the average projections of some CSX metrics that are commonly tracked and projected by analysts on Wall Street.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Revenue- Coal' will likely reach $531.86 million. The estimate points to a change of +8.5% from the year-ago quarter.

Analysts forecast 'Revenue- Intermodal' to reach $659.40 million. The estimate indicates a change of +25.1% from the prior-year quarter.

Analysts expect 'Revenue- Merchandise- Fertilizers' to come in at $139.10 million. The estimate indicates a change of +10.4% from the prior-year quarter.

It is projected by analysts that the 'Revenue- Merchandise- Chemicals' will reach $780.41 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +12%.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Operating Margin' should come in at 62.3%. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 30.3%.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Volume - Merchandise - Minerals' of 102.80 thousand. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 104.00 thousand.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Revenue per unit - Intermodal' reaching $795.52 . Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $686.00 in the same quarter last year.

The average prediction of analysts places 'Volume - Merchandise - Automotive' at 100.72 thousand. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 99.00 thousand.

The consensus estimate for 'Volume - Coal' stands at 188.85 thousand. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 184.00 thousand in the same quarter of the previous year.

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Volume - Merchandise - Fertilizers' should arrive at 49.67 thousand. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 48.00 thousand.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Revenue per unit - Coal' will reach $2816.56 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $2663.00 .

Analysts predict that the 'Volume - Intermodal' will reach 828.44 thousand. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 768.00 thousand.

View all Key Company Metrics for CSX here>>>

Shares of CSX have experienced a change of +1.7% in the past month compared to the +2.4% move of the Zacks S&P 500 composite. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), CSX is expected to mirror the overall market performance in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Perpetual Ltd decreased its holdings in shares of CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX – Free Report) by 99.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 8,634 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 1,949,121 shares during the quarter. Perpetual Ltd’s holdings in CSX were worth $402,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in CSX. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of CSX during the 2nd quarter worth about $7,655,277,000. Bank of America Corp DE acquired a new position in CSX in the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,598,962,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new position in CSX in the 2nd quarter valued at about $950,325,000. XXEC Inc. acquired a new position in CSX in the 2nd quarter valued at about $765,595,000. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc acquired a new position in CSX in the 2nd quarter valued at about $747,001,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.57% of the company’s stock.

CSX Price Performance Shares of NASDAQ CSX opened at $48.28 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $89.44 billion, a PE ratio of 27.91, a P/E/G ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.72. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $48.85 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $47.24. CSX Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $33.63 and a fifty-two week high of $53.60.

CSX (NASDAQ:CSX – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 22nd. The transportation company reported $0.54 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.52 by $0.02. CSX had a net margin of 22.21% and a return on equity of 24.98%. The company had revenue of $3.94 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.89 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.44 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that CSX Corporation will post 1.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. CSX Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.14 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 30th. This represents a $0.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.2%. CSX’s payout ratio is 32.37%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on CSX shares. Wall Street Zen cut CSX from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, August 8th. Barclays reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $60.00 target price (up from $55.00) on shares of CSX in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Citigroup reissued a “cautious” rating on shares of CSX in a report on Wednesday, October 7th. Bank of America dropped their price target on CSX from $56.00 to $55.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 18th. Finally, Evercore set a $51.00 price target on CSX in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Eighteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $51.06.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on CSX

Insider Activity In other CSX news, SVP Michael S. Burns sold 13,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.68, for a total transaction of $684,840.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 59,643 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,141,993.24. The trade was a 17.90% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CAO Angela C. Williams sold 30,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $53.29, for a total transaction of $1,598,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 10,437 shares in the company, valued at $556,187.73. This represents a 74.19% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Company insiders own 0.30% of the company’s stock.

CSX News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting CSX this week:

Positive Sentiment: Analysts expect CSX’s upcoming third-quarter results to benefit from stronger merchandise, intermodal and coal revenue. The company is also expected to post year-over-year earnings growth, supported by solid freight demand and pricing. CSX Gears Up to Report Q3 Earnings: What’s in the Cards? Positive Sentiment: Analyst price targets remain above the stock’s recent trading level. A group of 26 analysts set an average target of $51.09, while TD Cowen established a $54 target, indicating potential upside if CSX delivers on its earnings and operating outlook. 26 analysts set a USD 51.09 target for CSX stock Neutral Sentiment: Chief Operating Officer Mike Cory is retiring, beginning a leadership transition for CSX’s operations organization. The change could create near-term uncertainty, although an orderly transition may limit disruption. CSX announces retirement of COO Cory Neutral Sentiment: Options-market activity has drawn investor attention ahead of the earnings release, suggesting expectations for a potentially larger move in the stock but not establishing a clear directional signal. Is the Options Market Predicting a Spike in CSX Stock? Negative Sentiment: Labor costs and rail-network issues could pressure margins and service performance in the quarter. Another earnings preview cautions that CSX may lack the catalysts typically associated with a likely earnings beat, raising the risk of a muted reaction if results or guidance disappoint. CSX Reports Next Week: Wall Street Expects Earnings Growth Negative Sentiment: A CSX freight car derailed near Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland, temporarily halting rail traffic and causing expected MARC delays. The incident adds potential reputational, disruption and cleanup risks, although the reported information does not indicate the financial impact. CSX train car derails near Montgomery College campus in Rockville About CSX (Free Report)

CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX) is a transportation company that provides rail-based freight services through its principal subsidiary, CSX Transportation. The company moves a broad range of products, including agricultural and food products, chemicals, minerals, forest products, metals, automotive shipments, and consumer goods.

CSX also provides intermodal transportation, connecting rail shipments with trucks, ports, and distribution facilities. Its network serves the eastern United States and reaches parts of Canada, linking major industrial regions, population centers, manufacturing locations, and Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports.

CSX traces its history to the 1980 merger of Chessie System and Seaboard Coast Line Industries.

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Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when CSX (CSX - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on October 21, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis freight railroad is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.53 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +20.5%.

Revenues are expected to be $3.96 billion, up 10.4% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.3% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for CSX?For CSX, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -2.23%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that CSX will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that CSX would post earnings of $0.5 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.54, delivering a surprise of +8.00%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

CSX doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

Investors in CSX Corporation (CSX - Free Report) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the December 18, 2026 $15.00 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.

What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.

What do the Analysts Think?Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for CSX, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, CSX is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) in the Transportation - Rail Industry that ranks in the Top 20% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 60 days, no analyst has increased his estimate for the current quarter, while four have revised their estimates downward. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter to move from 54 cents per share to 53 cents per share in the same time period.

Given the way analysts feel about CSX right now, this huge implied volatility could mean there’s a trade developing. Often times, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.

Ausbil Investment Management Ltd grew its position in CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX – Free Report) by 10.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 288,186 shares of the transportation company’s stock after purchasing an additional 27,076 shares during the period. CSX comprises about 6.8% of Ausbil Investment Management Ltd’s portfolio, making the stock its largest position. Ausbil Investment Management Ltd’s holdings in CSX were worth $13,404,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in CSX. Evolve Private Wealth LLC bought a new position in CSX during the second quarter worth about $693,000. M. Kulyk & Associates LLC bought a new stake in shares of CSX in the second quarter worth about $8,145,000. Wealthfront Advisers LLC bought a new stake in shares of CSX in the second quarter worth about $7,609,000. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG acquired a new stake in shares of CSX during the second quarter worth about $6,598,000. Finally, First National Bank of Omaha acquired a new stake in shares of CSX during the second quarter worth about $6,248,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.57% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at CSX In related news, SVP Michael S. Burns sold 13,000 shares of CSX stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.68, for a total value of $684,840.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 59,643 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,141,993.24. The trade was a 17.90% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CAO Angela C. Williams sold 30,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.29, for a total value of $1,598,700.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 10,437 shares in the company, valued at $556,187.73. The trade was a 74.19% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.30% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades CSX has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley set a $32.00 price objective on CSX and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Monday, July 6th. Barclays restated an “overweight” rating and set a $60.00 target price (up from $55.00) on shares of CSX in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Susquehanna reduced their price target on shares of CSX from $59.00 to $55.00 and set a “positive” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 2nd. Bank of America lowered their price objective on shares of CSX from $56.00 to $55.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 18th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of CSX from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, August 8th. Eighteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $51.06. View Our Latest Research Report on CSX

CSX Stock Down 1.5% Shares of CSX stock opened at $46.81 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $86.71 billion, a PE ratio of 27.06, a P/E/G ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.21. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $49.13 and its 200 day simple moving average is $46.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 0.82. CSX Corporation has a 52-week low of $33.63 and a 52-week high of $53.60.

CSX (NASDAQ:CSX – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 22nd. The transportation company reported $0.54 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.52 by $0.02. CSX had a return on equity of 24.98% and a net margin of 22.21%.The firm had revenue of $3.94 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.89 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.44 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that CSX Corporation will post 2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

CSX Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 31st were paid a $0.14 dividend. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 31st. CSX’s payout ratio is presently 32.37%.

CSX News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting CSX this week:

Positive Sentiment: Wall Street analysts collectively rate CSX a “Moderate Buy,” indicating that the broader analyst view remains supportive. CSX Corporation Stock Rated Moderate Buy by Wall Street Analysts Neutral Sentiment: CSX’s consensus price target was reported at approximately $51.09, above the referenced share price, suggesting analysts see potential upside; however, the stock still declined as investors weighed the mixed signals. CSX Stock and Consensus Target Neutral Sentiment: CSX announced the return of its annual Santa Train to Appalachia on November 21. The community initiative reinforces the company’s local presence but is not expected to have a meaningful effect on earnings or valuation. CSX Santa Train Returning to Eastern Kentucky Negative Sentiment: Citigroup lowered its CSX price target from $54 to $53 and assigned a “Neutral” rating. Although the revised target still implies upside, the cut signals reduced confidence in near-term appreciation and likely contributed to selling pressure. Citigroup Lowers CSX Price Target Negative Sentiment: A bearish Seeking Alpha analysis characterized CSX as a stock it is not yet willing to buy, reinforcing investor concerns about valuation and the railroad’s ability to generate stronger near-term returns. CSX Corporation Analysis CSX Company Profile (Free Report)

CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX) is a transportation company that provides rail-based freight services through its principal subsidiary, CSX Transportation. The company moves a broad range of products, including agricultural and food products, chemicals, minerals, forest products, metals, automotive shipments, and consumer goods.

CSX also provides intermodal transportation, connecting rail shipments with trucks, ports, and distribution facilities. Its network serves the eastern United States and reaches parts of Canada, linking major industrial regions, population centers, manufacturing locations, and Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports.

CSX traces its history to the 1980 merger of Chessie System and Seaboard Coast Line Industries.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Representative Kevin Hern (Republican-Oklahoma) recently sold shares of CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX). In a filing disclosed on September 25th, the Representative disclosed that they had sold between $1,001 and $15,000 in CSX stock on August 27th. The trade occurred in the Representative’s “KEVIN HERN TRADITIONAL IRA” account.

Representative Kevin Hern also recently made the following trade(s):

Sold $15,001 – $50,000 in shares of CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:CNP) on 9/15/2026. Sold $1,001 – $15,000 in shares of TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX) on 9/15/2026. Sold $15,001 – $50,000 in shares of STERIS (NYSE:STE) on 9/15/2026. Sold $1,001 – $15,000 in shares of Seagate Technology (NASDAQ:STX) on 9/15/2026. Sold $15,001 – $50,000 in shares of NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) on 9/14/2026. Sold $1,001 – $15,000 in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) on 9/14/2026. Sold $15,001 – $50,000 in shares of IQVIA (NYSE:IQV) on 9/14/2026. Sold $15,001 – $50,000 in shares of Home Depot (NYSE:HD) on 9/14/2026. Sold $1,001 – $15,000 in shares of Home Depot (NYSE:HD) on 9/14/2026. Sold $15,001 – $50,000 in shares of Emerson Electric (NYSE:EMR) on 9/14/2026. CSX Stock Performance Shares of CSX stock opened at $46.76 on Tuesday. CSX Corporation has a 12 month low of $33.63 and a 12 month high of $53.60. The stock has a market cap of $86.62 billion, a PE ratio of 27.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 1.21. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $49.73 and its 200-day moving average price is $46.57. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22.

CSX (NASDAQ:CSX – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 22nd. The transportation company reported $0.54 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.52 by $0.02. CSX had a net margin of 22.21% and a return on equity of 24.98%. The business had revenue of $3.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.89 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.44 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that CSX Corporation will post 2 EPS for the current fiscal year. CSX Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 31st were given a dividend of $0.14 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 31st. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.2%. CSX’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 32.37%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On CSX A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in CSX. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of CSX by 7.2% in the 2nd quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. now owns 3,142 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $149,000 after purchasing an additional 211 shares in the last quarter. Arlington Trust Co LLC lifted its position in shares of CSX by 58.0% during the 2nd quarter. Arlington Trust Co LLC now owns 681 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 250 shares during the last quarter. Greenleaf Trust boosted its stake in CSX by 0.4% in the second quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 69,023 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $3,281,000 after buying an additional 263 shares in the last quarter. Syon Capital LLC boosted its stake in CSX by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. Syon Capital LLC now owns 28,316 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $1,026,000 after buying an additional 287 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its position in CSX by 1.7% in the second quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 18,038 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $874,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. 73.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity In related news, CAO Angela C. Williams sold 30,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $53.29, for a total transaction of $1,598,700.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 10,437 shares in the company, valued at $556,187.73. This represents a 74.19% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Michael S. Burns sold 13,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.68, for a total transaction of $684,840.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 59,643 shares in the company, valued at $3,141,993.24. This represents a 17.90% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.30% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes CSX has been the subject of several recent research reports. Stifel Nicolaus set a $54.00 target price on shares of CSX in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Barclays reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $60.00 price objective (up from $55.00) on shares of CSX in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Argus set a $56.00 price objective on CSX in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Citigroup boosted their target price on CSX from $53.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, TD Cowen increased their target price on CSX from $46.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Eighteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, CSX currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $51.24.

Check Out Our Latest Report on CSX

About Representative Hern Kevin Hern (Republican Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District. He assumed office on November 13, 2018. His current term ends on January 3, 2027.

Hern (Republican Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.

Kevin Hern went into business as a McDonald’s franchisee in 1999. He acquired 10 McDonald’s franchises by 2012. He served on the McDonald’s National Leadership Team for 13 years, including the tax policy team, the insurance corporation, and as chairman of the economics team. From 2011 to 2015, he was chairman of the finance committee of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.

About CSX (Get Free Report)

CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX) is a transportation company that provides rail-based freight services through its principal subsidiary, CSX Transportation. The company moves a broad range of products, including agricultural and food products, chemicals, minerals, forest products, metals, automotive shipments, and consumer goods.

CSX also provides intermodal transportation, connecting rail shipments with trucks, ports, and distribution facilities. Its network serves the eastern United States and reaches parts of Canada, linking major industrial regions, population centers, manufacturing locations, and Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports.

CSX traces its history to the 1980 merger of Chessie System and Seaboard Coast Line Industries.

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Engineers Gate Manager LP purchased a new position in CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 32,731 shares of the transportation company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,701,000.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in CSX in the 2nd quarter valued at about $7,655,277,000. XXEC Inc. purchased a new position in CSX in the second quarter worth approximately $765,595,000. Bank of America Corp DE purchased a new position in CSX in the second quarter worth approximately $1,598,962,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new position in CSX during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $950,325,000. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc acquired a new position in CSX during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $747,001,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.57% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling In other news, SVP Michael Burns sold 13,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.68, for a total transaction of $684,840.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 59,643 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,141,993.24. This trade represents a 17.90% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CAO Angela Williams sold 30,000 shares of CSX stock in a transaction on Friday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $53.29, for a total transaction of $1,598,700.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 10,437 shares in the company, valued at $556,187.73. The trade was a 74.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Company insiders own 0.30% of the company’s stock.

CSX Stock Performance NASDAQ CSX opened at $47.90 on Thursday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $50.22 and a two-hundred day moving average of $46.28. The company has a market capitalization of $88.73 billion, a PE ratio of 27.69, a P/E/G ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 1.21. CSX Corporation has a 1 year low of $32.48 and a 1 year high of $53.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.72. CSX (NASDAQ:CSX – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 22nd. The transportation company reported $0.54 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.52 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $3.94 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.89 billion. CSX had a return on equity of 24.98% and a net margin of 22.21%.The business’s quarterly revenue was up 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.44 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that CSX Corporation will post 2 earnings per share for the current year.

CSX Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 31st were issued a $0.14 dividend. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 31st. CSX’s dividend payout ratio is presently 32.37%.

Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on CSX shares. Susquehanna upgraded shares of CSX from a “neutral” rating to a “positive” rating and raised their price objective for the company from $50.00 to $58.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Barclays reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $60.00 target price (up from $55.00) on shares of CSX in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Evercore set a $51.00 target price on CSX in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on CSX from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded CSX from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, August 8th. Eighteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $51.31.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on CSX

CSX Profile (Free Report)

CSX Corporation (NASDAQ: CSX) is a transportation company that operates one of the largest rail networks in the eastern United States. Through its CSX Transportation subsidiary, the company provides rail freight transportation and logistics services for manufacturers, distributors, utilities, agricultural businesses and other commercial customers.

CSX transports a broad range of products, including chemicals, agricultural and food products, minerals, forest products, metals, automobiles and consumer goods.

Read More Five stocks we like better than CSX 3 Luxury Consumer Brands to Watch in a Beaten-Down Sector Jackson’s Record Quarter Powers the Bull Case Holiday Shopping Is Almost Here—And Target May Be Ready to Win Big AI Panic Hit Tech Stocks—But NVIDIA’s Growth Engine Is Intact Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CSX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX – Free Report).

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On August 25, 2026, we conducted a DCF analysis for CSX Corp CSX, which has experienced notable price performance, including a year-to-date increase of 42.8% and a one-year rise of 50.9%. However, our valuation models indicate a consensus that CSX is significantly overvalued.

DCF Earnings-based intrinsic value of $32.48 vs current price of $51.44 (margin of safety: -58.4%) DCF Free Cash Flow-based intrinsic value of $39.13 vs current price (second opinion confirms overvaluation) GF Score™ of 88/100 suggests a strong performance but low predictability (1/5 stars) affects DCF reliability What Is CSX Worth? DCF Earnings-Based Model Our DCF earnings-based model utilizes a two-stage approach to estimate the intrinsic value of CSX. In the first stage, we project earnings growth over the next ten years at an annual rate of 11.8%, which is then discounted at a rate of 11%. The second stage assumes a terminal growth rate of 4% for the subsequent ten years, also discounted at 11%. Below are the assumptions used in our model:

Parameter Value Current EPS (TTM, excl. non-recurring) $1.80 10-Year Growth Rate 11.8% 10-Year Treasury Rate 4.67% Discount Rate (ceil(Treasury) + 6%) 11% Terminal Growth Rate 4% Here’s a summary of the calculations:

Stage Description Value Growth Stage (Years 1-10) EPS growing at 11.8%, discounted at 11% $18.73 Terminal Stage (Years 11-20) 4% terminal growth, discounted at 11% $13.75 Intrinsic Value Growth + Terminal $32.48 With a current price of $51.44 compared to an intrinsic value of $32.48, CSX appears significantly overvalued, resulting in a margin of safety of -58.4%. It is important to note that GuruFocus uses EPS excluding non-recurring items, as research indicates that stock prices correlate more closely with earnings than with free cash flow. For further details, you can visit the CSX DCF Calculator.

What Does the Free Cash Flow DCF Say? The Free Cash Flow (FCF) based intrinsic value for CSX is calculated at $39.13. This value corroborates the earnings-based DCF model, reinforcing the conclusion that CSX is significantly overvalued with a margin of safety of -31.5%.

How Does GF Value™ Compare to the DCF Models? According to our analysis, the GF Value™ for CSX stands at $36.81, providing a third perspective on the valuation. GF Value™ is a proprietary measure from GuruFocus that is derived from historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates. All three valuation models—DCF earnings, DCF FCF, and GF Value™—align in indicating that CSX is overvalued. For more insights, check the GF Value™ page.

What Does CSX's GF Score™ Tell Us? The GF Score™ assesses a company's overall performance based on various metrics, including financial strength, profitability, growth, valuation, and momentum. CSX's GF Score™ of 88/100 reflects strong performance, but its predictability rank of 1/5 stars indicates that the DCF model may be less reliable for this stock. Below is a summary of the GF Score™ metrics:

Metric Rating GF Score™ 88/100 Financial Strength 4/10 Profitability 10/10 Growth 8/10 Valuation 5/10 Momentum 9/10 For additional details, visit the CSX stock page.

Key Assumptions and Limitations It is crucial to acknowledge that DCF models are highly sensitive to the assumptions made regarding growth rates and discount rates. Stocks with low predictability ratings, such as CSX's 1/5 stars, yield less reliable DCF estimates. The terminal growth rate of 4% is a simplifying assumption that may not reflect actual future performance.

What This Means for Investors In summary, all three valuation models—DCF earnings, DCF FCF, and GF Value™—point to the conclusion that CSX is significantly overvalued. The guru ownership signal indicates that 15 gurus currently hold the stock, with 7 adding and 7 trimming positions in recent quarters, while insiders have been net selling over the past 12 months. This mixed signal from guru activity, combined with the overvaluation indicated by our models, suggests caution for potential investors. For a deeper dive into the DCF analysis, visit the CSX DCF Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions What is CSX's intrinsic value based on DCF?

According to our analysis, the earnings-based intrinsic value is $32.48, while the FCF-based intrinsic value is $39.13.

Is CSX overvalued or undervalued?

Both the DCF and GF Value™ models suggest that CSX is overvalued.

How reliable is the DCF model for CSX?

The DCF model's reliability is affected by its predictability rank of 1/5 stars, indicating lower reliability for this stock.

This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Disclosures I/We may personally own shares in some of the companies mentioned above. However, those positions are not material to either the company or to my/our portfolios.

Key Takeaways Shares of CSX have surged 42.8% so far this year, outperforming the transportation-rail industry.CSX earnings estimates have moved higher, signaling growing confidence in its outlook.CSX Corporation's focus on improving workplace safety for employees is commendable. CSX Corporation (CSX - Free Report) has performed well in the past year and has the potential to sustain the momentum in the future. If you have not taken advantage of its share price appreciation yet, it’s time to do so.

Against this backdrop, let’s look at the factors that make this stock an attractive pick.

What Makes CSX an Attractive Pick?An Outperformer: A glimpse at the company’s price trend reveals that the stock has had an impressive run over the past year. Shares of CSX have gained 42.8% so far this year, outperforming the 31.8% surge of the Transportation - Rail industry it belongs to.

CSX Stock YTD Price Comparison Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Solid Zacks Rank: CSX presently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 offer the best investment opportunities. Thus, the company is a compelling investment proposition at the moment.

Northward Estimate Revisions: The direction of estimate revisions serves as an important pointer when it comes to the price of a stock. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2026 earnings has moved 5.88% north in the past 60 days. For the full year 2026 and 2027, the consensus mark for earnings has been revised upward by 5.26% and 3.72%, respectively, in the same time frame. The favorable estimate revisions indicate brokers’ confidence in the stock.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Positive Earnings Surprise History: CSX has an impressive earnings surprise history. The company’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four quarters (missed the mark in the remaining quarter), delivering an average beat of 3.97%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Earnings Expectations: Earnings growth and stock price gains often indicate a company’s prospects. For third-quarter 2026, CSX’s earnings are expected to improve 22.73% year over year. For full year 2026 and 2027, CSX’s earnings are expected to improve 24.22% and 11.58% year over year, respectively.

Growth Factors: CSX Corporation's focus on improving workplace safety for employees is commendable. CSX's consistent efforts to strengthen its relations with its employees are reflected through the ratification of multiple collective bargaining agreements with the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen and the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Forgers & Helpers. Such deals reflect the employee-friendly attitude of CSX, through which it strives to maintain cordial relations with its employees and the unions representing them, thereby providing a healthy work environment at CSX.

CSX’s continued use of dividends and share repurchases reflects a disciplined capital-allocation policy. Such shareholder-friendly initiatives should boost investor confidence and benefit the bottom line.

CSX’s upbeat outlook for 2026 is noteworthy as well. For 2026, the company now expects mid-to high single-digit revenue growth (including fuel, based on the current forward curve for diesel) compared with its prior guidance of mid-single-digit revenue growth. Operating margin expansion is now anticipated to exceed 350 basis points compared with the previous expectation of around the higher end of the 200-300 basis points range. Free cash flow is now anticipated to increase more than 80% compared with the prior expectation of growth of more than 60%.

Other Stocks to ConsiderInvestors interested in the Zacks Transportation sector may consider Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (EXPD - Free Report) and Seanergy Maritime Holdings (SHIP - Free Report) as well. 

Expeditors currently sports a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

EXPD has an expected earnings growth rate of 28.6% for 2026.  The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 17.15%.

Seanergy Maritime Holdings currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.

SHIP has an expected earnings growth rate of more than 100% for the current year. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 38%.

Advisors Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 15,928 shares of the transportation company’s stock, valued at approximately $757,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of CSX. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new position in shares of CSX during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $7,655,277,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp purchased a new stake in CSX in the 2nd quarter worth $950,325,000. Deutsche Bank AG acquired a new position in CSX during the second quarter worth $685,418,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in CSX during the second quarter worth $224,809,000. Finally, Great Lakes Advisors LLC purchased a new position in CSX during the second quarter valued at $171,908,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.57% of the company’s stock.

CSX Trading Up 1.2% CSX opened at $51.59 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $95.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 1.21. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $49.38 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $45.15. CSX Corporation has a 1-year low of $31.80 and a 1-year high of $53.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.72.

CSX (NASDAQ:CSX – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 22nd. The transportation company reported $0.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.52 by $0.02. CSX had a return on equity of 24.98% and a net margin of 22.21%.The business had revenue of $3.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.89 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.44 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that CSX Corporation will post 2 EPS for the current fiscal year. CSX Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be issued a $0.14 dividend. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 31st. CSX’s dividend payout ratio is presently 32.37%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth CSX has been the subject of a number of research reports. Raymond James Financial reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $56.00 target price on shares of CSX in a research note on Monday, July 13th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $54.00 price target on shares of CSX in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Citizens Jmp initiated coverage on CSX in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. They issued a “market perform” rating on the stock. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on CSX from $46.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $54.00 target price (up from $51.00) on shares of CSX in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Eighteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $51.31.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on CSX

Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CFO Kevin S. Boone sold 136,708 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.70, for a total transaction of $6,384,263.60. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 208,622 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $9,742,647.40. The trade was a 39.59% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Michael S. Burns sold 13,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.68, for a total transaction of $684,840.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 59,643 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,141,993.24. This represents a 17.90% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 189,708 shares of company stock valued at $9,132,304 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.30% of the company’s stock.

CSX Profile (Free Report)

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.

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Blue Capital Inc. acquired a new position in CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 58,609 shares of the transportation company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,786,000. CSX makes up 1.8% of Blue Capital Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 15th largest holding.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of CSX in the second quarter valued at $27,000. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in shares of CSX during the 2nd quarter worth about $28,000. Arlington Trust Co LLC boosted its stake in CSX by 58.0% in the 2nd quarter. Arlington Trust Co LLC now owns 681 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 250 shares during the period. Wilkerson Advisory Group LLC raised its stake in shares of CSX by 97.4% during the 1st quarter. Wilkerson Advisory Group LLC now owns 829 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 409 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Meeder Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in CSX in the 2nd quarter valued at about $34,000. Institutional investors own 73.57% of the company’s stock.

CSX Stock Performance Shares of CSX stock opened at $51.59 on Friday. CSX Corporation has a 52 week low of $31.80 and a 52 week high of $53.60. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $95.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.82, a PEG ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $49.38 and a 200 day moving average price of $45.15.

CSX (NASDAQ:CSX – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 22nd. The transportation company reported $0.54 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.52 by $0.02. CSX had a return on equity of 24.98% and a net margin of 22.21%.The company had revenue of $3.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.89 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.44 earnings per share. CSX’s quarterly revenue was up 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that CSX Corporation will post 2 EPS for the current year. CSX Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be paid a $0.14 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 31st. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. CSX’s payout ratio is 32.37%.

Insider Activity In other CSX news, Director John J. Zillmer sold 10,000 shares of CSX stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.45, for a total value of $464,500.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 353,714 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,430,015.30. The trade was a 2.75% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Michael S. Burns sold 13,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.68, for a total value of $684,840.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 59,643 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,141,993.24. This trade represents a 17.90% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 189,708 shares of company stock valued at $9,132,304. 0.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Truist Financial set a $46.00 target price on shares of CSX in a report on Friday, July 10th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of CSX from $50.00 to $54.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. Bank of America raised their price target on shares of CSX from $53.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. TD Cowen boosted their target price on CSX from $46.00 to $54.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of CSX from $49.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Eighteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $51.31.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on CSX

CSX Profile (Free Report)

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.

See Also Five stocks we like better than CSX Blueprint for a Boom: SEC Clears the Crypto Runway Ross Stores Just Flipped the Off-Price Retail Story After TJX’s Marmaxx Miss Advance Auto Parts Plunged, But Its Turnaround Is Still Working Is Palo Alto Networks Priced for Perfection Again as AI Security Demand Accelerates?

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For those looking to find strong Transportation stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Is CSX (CSX - Free Report) one of those stocks right now? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.

CSX is one of 110 companies in the Transportation group. The Transportation group currently sits at #2 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank includes 16 different groups and is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors.

The Zacks Rank emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find stocks with improving earnings outlooks. This system has a long record of success, and these stocks tend to be on track to beat the market over the next one to three months. CSX is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CSX's full-year earnings has moved 5.2% higher within the past quarter. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock's earnings outlook is more positive.

Based on the latest available data, CSX has gained about 40.6% so far this year. Meanwhile, stocks in the Transportation group have gained about 13.8% on average. This means that CSX is outperforming the sector as a whole this year.

Another Transportation stock, which has outperformed the sector so far this year, is EuroDry (EDRY - Free Report) . The stock has returned 238.5% year-to-date.

The consensus estimate for EuroDry's current year EPS has increased 93.6% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

To break things down more, CSX belongs to the Transportation - Rail industry, a group that includes 9 individual companies and currently sits at #90 in the Zacks Industry Rank. This group has gained an average of 30.8% so far this year, so CSX is performing better in this area.

In contrast, EuroDry falls under the Transportation - Shipping industry. Currently, this industry has 28 stocks and is ranked #51. Since the beginning of the year, the industry has moved +55.3%.

CSX and EuroDry could continue their solid performance, so investors interested in Transportation stocks should continue to pay close attention to these stocks.

On August 18, 2026, we present a DCF analysis for CSX Corp
CSX +0.26% 86

, a company that has shown notable price performance with a year-to-date increase of 40.4%. However, our valuation models indicate that CSX is significantly overvalued at its current price of $50.58.

DCF Earnings-based intrinsic value of $32.48 vs price of $50.58 (margin of safety: -55.7%) DCF Free Cash Flow-based intrinsic value of $39.13 (modestly overvalued with -29.3% margin of safety) GF Score™ of 86/100 indicates strong fundamentals but low predictability (1/5 stars) affects DCF reliability What Is CSX Worth? DCF Earnings-Based Model The DCF earnings-based model for CSX employs a two-stage approach. In the first stage, we project earnings growth over the next ten years at an annual rate of 11.8%, followed by a terminal growth phase where growth slows to 4% for the subsequent ten years. The discount rate used is 11%, which combines the risk-free rate and equity risk premium.

Parameter Value Current EPS (TTM, excl. non-recurring) $1.80 10-Year Growth Rate 11.8% 10-Year Treasury Rate 4.74% Discount Rate (ceil(Treasury) + 6%) 11% Terminal Growth Rate 4% Here’s a summary of the calculations for the two-stage model:

Stage Description Value Growth Stage (Years 1-10) EPS growing at 11.8%, discounted at 11% $18.73 Terminal Stage (Years 11-20) 4% terminal growth, discounted at 11% $13.75 Intrinsic Value Growth + Terminal $32.48 With a current price of $50.58 compared to an intrinsic value of $32.48, CSX is significantly overvalued, reflecting a margin of safety of -55.7%. It's important to note that GuruFocus uses EPS excluding non-recurring items, as research indicates that stock prices correlate more closely with earnings than with free cash flow. For further details, you can check the CSX DCF Calculator.

What Does the Free Cash Flow DCF Say? The alternative DCF model based on Free Cash Flow (FCF) yields an intrinsic value of $39.13. This value is higher than the earnings-based intrinsic value, but both models indicate that CSX is overvalued. The FCF model shows a margin of safety of -29.3%, reinforcing the conclusion drawn from the earnings-based DCF.

How Does GF Value™ Compare to the DCF Models? The GF Value™ for CSX is calculated at $36.74, providing another perspective on valuation. GF Value™ is derived from historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates. All three models—DCF earnings, DCF FCF, and GF Value™—agree that CSX is overvalued at its current price. For more insights, visit the GF Value™ page.

What Does CSX's GF Score™ Tell Us? The GF Score™ measures a company's financial strength, profitability, growth potential, valuation, and momentum. CSX's score of 86/100 reflects strong fundamentals, but the low predictability rank of 1/5 stars suggests that the DCF model may be less reliable for this stock. Here’s a breakdown of the GF Score™ metrics:

Metric Rating GF Score™ 86/100 Financial Strength 4/10 Profitability 9/10 Growth 8/10 Valuation 5/10 Momentum 9/10 For more details on CSX, visit the CSX stock page.

Key Assumptions and Limitations It is essential to recognize that DCF models are highly sensitive to the assumptions made regarding growth rates and discount rates. Stocks with low predictability ratings, such as CSX's 1/5 stars, tend to yield less reliable DCF estimates. The terminal growth rate of 4% is a simplifying assumption that may not accurately reflect future conditions.

What This Means for Investors In summary, all three valuation models—DCF earnings, DCF FCF, and GF Value™—indicate that CSX is overvalued at its current price. The consensus suggests a cautious approach, especially given the low predictability rank that affects the reliability of the DCF analysis. Additionally, the guru ownership signal shows that 15 gurus currently hold CSX stock, with a balanced activity of 7 adding and 7 trimming positions, while insiders have been net selling over the past 12 months. This insider activity may raise concerns about future performance. For a comprehensive view, explore the CSX DCF Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions What is CSX's intrinsic value based on DCF?

According to our analysis, the earnings-based intrinsic value is $32.48, while the FCF-based intrinsic value is $39.13.

Is CSX overvalued or undervalued?

Both the DCF and GF Value™ models indicate that CSX is overvalued at its current price.

How reliable is the DCF model for CSX?

The DCF model's reliability is affected by CSX's low predictability rank of 1/5 stars, suggesting caution in relying solely on this analysis.

This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Bridgewater Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of CSX Corporation (NASDAQ: CSX) in the undefined quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 29,169 shares of the transportation company's stock, valued at approximately $1,424,000. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified

CSX Corporation (CSX) shares gain 1,220% since 2008.

CSX is a rail freight company offering rail service, container/trailer transport, rail-to-truck transfers, and bulk commodity operations. CSX’s second-quarter fiscal 2026 report showed $3.94 billion in revenue (a 10% year-over-year gain), per-share earnings of $0.54 (up 23% sequentially), and increased 2026 guidance, expecting up to a high-single-digit gain in revenue, over 350 basis points of operating margin expansion, and free cash flow growth of over 80%.

It’s no wonder CSX shares are up 40% this year – and they could rise more. MoneyFlows data shows how Big Money investors are betting heavily on the forward picture of the stock.

Big Money Riding CSX Institutional volumes reveal plenty. In the last year, CSX has enjoyed strong investor demand, which we believe to be institutional support.

Each green bar signals unusually large volumes in CSX shares. They reflect our proprietary inflow signal, pushing the stock higher:

CSX has had 15 institutional inflow signals so far this year, pushing shares higher by 40%. Source: www.moneyflows.com Plenty of industrials names are under accumulation right now. But there’s a powerful fundamental story happening with CSX.

CSX Fundamental Analysis Institutional support and a healthy fundamental backdrop make this company worth investigating. As you can see, CSX has had strong profits and a strong enterprise value:

Profit margin (+20.5%) EV/EBITDA 1-year estimate (+11.9x) Source: FactSet

Also, EPS is estimated to ramp higher this year by +13.4%.

Now it makes sense why the stock has been powering to new heights. CSX has a track record of strong financial performance.

Marrying great fundamentals with our proprietary software has found some big winning stocks over the long term.

CSX has been a top-rated stock at MoneyFlows. That means the stock has unusual buy pressure and growing fundamentals. We have a ranking process that showcases stocks like this on a weekly basis.

It’s made the rare Outlier 20 report 16 times and is up 1,220% since the first outlier inflow signal. The blue bar below shows when CSX was a top pick in the last 20 years…it’s an institutional cornerstone:

Two decades of outlier inflows sent CSX shares up 1,220%, showing the power of institutional support. Source: www.moneyflows.com Tracking unusual volumes reveals the power of money flows.

This is a trait that most outlier stocks exhibit…the best of the best. Big Money demand drives stocks upward.

CSX Price Prediction The CSX rally isn’t new at all. Big Money buying in the shares is signaling to take notice. Given the historical gains in share price and strong fundamentals, this stock could be worth a spot in a diversified portfolio.

Disclosure: the author holds no position in CSX at the time of publication.

If you are a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) or are a serious investor, take your investing to the next level and follow our free weekly MoneyFlows insights.

Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In "long context," investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.

Even though momentum is a popular stock characteristic, it can be tough to define. Debate surrounding which are the best and worst metrics to focus on is lengthy, but the Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.

Below, we take a look at CSX (CSX - Free Report) , which currently has a Momentum Style Score of A. We also discuss some of the main drivers of the Momentum Style Score, like price change and earnings estimate revisions.

It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. CSX currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.

You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>

Set to Beat the Market? In order to see if CSX is a promising momentum pick, let's examine some Momentum Style elements to see if this freight railroad holds up.

Looking at a stock's short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It's also helpful to compare a security to its industry; this can show investors the best companies in a particular area.

For CSX, shares are up 2.71% over the past week while the Zacks Transportation - Rail industry is up 3.42% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 11.32% compares favorably with the industry's 7.12% performance as well.

While any stock can see its price increase, it takes a real winner to consistently beat the market. That is why looking at longer term price metrics -- such as performance over the past three months or year -- can be useful as well. Shares of CSX have increased 16.25% over the past quarter, and have gained 50.89% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 4.48% and 17.65%, respectively.

Investors should also take note of CSX's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now CSX is averaging 12,499,395 shares for the last 20 days..

Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with CSX.

Over the past two months, 5 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost CSX's consensus estimate, increasing from $1.90 to $1.94 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 6 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.

Bottom LineGiven these factors, it shouldn't be surprising that CSX is a #2 (Buy) stock and boasts a Momentum Score of A. If you're looking for a fresh pick that's set to soar in the near-term, make sure to keep CSX on your short list.