Zacks Research Has Bullish Outlook for CSX FY2026 Earnings

CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX) – Analysts at Zacks Research upped their FY2026 earnings per share estimates for shares of CSX in a research report issued on Wednesday, November 4th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the transportation company will earn $2.06 per share for the year, up from their prior forecast of $2.00. The consensus estimate for CSX’s current full-year earnings is $2.04 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for CSX’s Q4 2026 earnings at $0.52 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $0.51 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $0.57 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $0.64 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $2.32 EPS, Q1 2028 earnings at $0.50 EPS, Q3 2028 earnings at $0.63 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $2.38 EPS.

Several other research analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of CSX from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, August 8th. Argus set a $56.00 target price on CSX in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Truist Financial set a $46.00 target price on CSX in a research note on Friday, July 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on CSX from $57.00 to $58.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 22nd. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated a “market perform” rating and issued a $49.00 price target on shares of CSX in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. Eighteen equities 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 MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $52.20.

CSX Price Performance

Shares of CSX stock opened at $52.05 on Thursday. CSX has a 52 week low of $33.63 and a 52 week high of $53.60. The stock has a market capitalization of $95.95 billion, a PE ratio of 26.97, a PEG ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 0.84. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $48.86 and its 200-day moving average is $45.75.

CSX (NASDAQ:CSX) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 21st. The transportation company reported $0.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.53 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $4.02 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.96 billion. CSX had a return on equity of 25.94% and a net margin of 23.97%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 12.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.44 EPS.

Institutional Trading of CSX

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Evolve Private Wealth LLC bought a new stake in CSX in the second quarter valued at approximately $693,000. M. Kulyk & Associates LLC acquired a new stake in CSX in the second quarter worth $8,145,000. Wealthfront Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in CSX in the second quarter worth $7,609,000. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG bought a new position in shares of CSX during the second quarter worth $6,598,000. Finally, First National Bank of Omaha bought a new position in shares of CSX during the second quarter worth $6,248,000. 73.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other CSX news, Director John Zillmer sold 19,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.24, for a total transaction of $999,180.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 334,214 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,125,125.36. This trade represents a 5.51% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.30% of the company’s stock.

CSX Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 30th will be paid a $0.14 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 30th. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. CSX’s dividend payout ratio is presently 29.02%.

CSX News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting CSX this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised its earnings estimates across several periods: FY2026 EPS to $2.06 from $2.00, FY2027 to $2.32 from $2.14, and FY2028 to $2.38 from $2.27. It also lifted multiple quarterly forecasts, including Q2 2027 to $0.57 from $0.50. These upward revisions may support investor optimism about CSX’s earnings outlook.
• Positive Sentiment: A recent report points to productivity improvements lifting CSX’s 2026 outlook, a potential operational tailwind. CSX stock faces execution test as productivity lifts 2026 outlook
• Neutral Sentiment: Wall Street sentiment is described as moderately bullish, with CSX having outperformed the broader market over the past year; this is supportive context but not a new company-specific catalyst. Is Wall Street Bullish or Bearish on CSX Corporation Stock?
• Neutral Sentiment: CSX CFO Kevin Boone is scheduled to speak at the Baird Global Industrial Conference on November 11. Investors may look for additional commentary, but no new operating or financial information was included in the announcement. CSX CFO to Address Baird Global Industrial Conference

About 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.