Choate Investment Advisors Sells 1,477 Shares of Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI)

Choate Investment Advisors lowered its holdings in shares of Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI) (TSE:CNR) by 1.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 148,771 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 1,477 shares during the quarter. Choate Investment Advisors’ holdings in Canadian National Railway were worth $15,108,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of CNI. Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. bought a new position in shares of Canadian National Railway during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Arlington Trust Co LLC bought a new position in Canadian National Railway in the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Addison Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Canadian National Railway by 80.2% in the 4th quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 319 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 142 shares during the period. Coastline Trust Co bought a new position in Canadian National Railway in the 3rd quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. raised its holdings in Canadian National Railway by 48.2% in the 4th quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 332 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 108 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.74% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages recently commented on CNI. Bank of America dropped their target price on shares of Canadian National Railway from $119.00 to $112.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Loop Capital downgraded shares of Canadian National Railway from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on shares of Canadian National Railway from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Canadian National Railway from $125.00 to $123.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 13th. Finally, Susquehanna decreased their price target on shares of Canadian National Railway from $125.00 to $115.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and four have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Canadian National Railway has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $124.19.

Canadian National Railway Price Performance

Shares of Canadian National Railway stock opened at $97.70 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $61.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 0.91. Canadian National Railway has a twelve month low of $93.64 and a twelve month high of $134.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a current ratio of 0.66. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $101.77 and its 200-day simple moving average is $107.90.

Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI) (TSE:CNR) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.39 by ($0.09). Canadian National Railway had a net margin of 26.09% and a return on equity of 22.48%. As a group, research analysts expect that Canadian National Railway will post 5.52 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Canadian National Railway Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be paid a $0.6159 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 10th. This is an increase from Canadian National Railway’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.61. This represents a $2.46 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.52%. Canadian National Railway’s payout ratio is currently 47.66%.

Canadian National Railway Profile

Canadian National Railway Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail, intermodal, trucking, and marine transportation and logistics business in Canada and the United States. The company provides rail services, which include equipment, custom brokerage services, transloading and distribution, business development and real estate, and private car storage services; and intermodal services, such as temperature controlled cargo, port partnerships, and logistics parks.