CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX) is one of the 10 Most Profitable S&P 500 Stocks to Buy Now. On March 19, 2026, Evercore ISI downgraded CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX) to In Line from Outperform and raised its price target to $41 from $40. Evercore said that while the company could still deliver industry-leading EPS growth over the next two years, much of the upside appears already reflected in the stock following a 51% rebound from its 52-week low and a 9.35% gain year-to-date. Evercore ISI Downgrades CSX Corp ...

Core Insights - CSX Corporation is recognized as one of the top railroad stocks to consider for investment according to analysts [1] - The company is currently facing challenges but is implementing strategies for resilience and growth [1] Group 1: Challenges and Strategies - Recent weather-related disruptions have impacted CSX's network, prompting investments in network resiliency to ensure faster recovery and reliable service [2] - CSX anticipates a flat industrial production environment through 2026, with significant headwinds from the housing and automotive markets due to mill and plant closures that began in 2025 [3] - Aluminum shortages in the automotive supply chain are compounding the pressure on CSX's volumes [3] Group 2: Growth Opportunities - Increased US infrastructure investment is driving demand for aggregates and cement, positively impacting CSX's minerals segment [4] - However, the minerals segment generates lower revenue per unit compared to other categories such as chemicals and forest products [4] Group 3: Company Overview - CSX Corporation operates over 21,000 route miles across 23 states, the District of Columbia, and two Canadian provinces, transporting a variety of goods including coal, chemicals, agricultural products, automobiles, and consumer goods [5]

In this article, we explore the 10 Best Railroad Stocks to Buy According to Analysts.The United States and Canada, two countries that form the North American region, have been running on railroads for nearly 200 years. Railroad emerged as an industry in the late 1820s and still supports the region’s economy to date. The US in particular has nearly 140,000 route miles of freight logistics network, which moves about 28% of all domestic freight by ton-miles. It is also widely considered the world’s largest, sa ...

Core Insights - CSX Corporation is enhancing its industrial development strategy by adding 21 new rail-served properties across 10 states to its Select Site program, focusing on supply chain efficiency and business expansion [1][7] - The initiative demonstrates CSX's collaboration with over 30 communities, aiming to reduce entry barriers for businesses and improve site selection confidence [2] - The effectiveness of the program is highlighted by real-world outcomes, such as Owens Corning's investment in Prattville, AL, which will create 100 skilled jobs, reinforcing CSX's role in regional economic growth [3] Financial Performance - CSX shares have increased by 31.5% over the past year, significantly outperforming the Transportation - Rail industry's growth of 11.6% [4][7]

Group 1 - The network is currently running well despite experiencing some weather-related disruptions this year [1] - The beginning of January showed good performance, but subsequent storms impacted both the network and customer operations, leading to challenges in maintaining typical volumes [1][2] - Recovery from the initial storms has been achieved, although additional impacts were noted throughout the year [2]

Summary of CSX Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: CSX Corporation - **Industry**: Rail Transportation Key Points and Arguments Network Performance and Weather Impact - The network is performing well despite weather disruptions earlier in the year, particularly from storms in January and February [4][5] - Specific sectors like aggregates and waste have faced challenges due to weather conditions, impacting loading and typical volumes [5] - Coal demand has been affected by higher natural gas prices and cold weather, leading to frozen coal issues [6][8] Energy Prices and Market Segments - Higher energy prices are expected to impact sectors with high energy demand, particularly chemicals and intermodal services [12] - The domestic coal market is anticipated to remain strong, with utilities potentially delaying retirements, which could bolster demand [15][17] - Current fuel prices are creating a $20 million-$30 million headwind for the current quarter due to the fuel surcharge program [23] Industrial Production and Market Outlook - Industrial production is expected to remain flat, with automotive production forecasted to decline by 1.5% and sales by 2% [29] - The housing market is also facing challenges, particularly in the forest products sector, with limited optimism for 2026 [31] - Infrastructure investment in the U.S. is expected to remain strong, particularly in aggregates and cement, despite a slower start due to winter weather [33] Supply Chain and Automotive Sector - The automotive sector is experiencing headwinds, particularly due to aluminum shortages rather than semiconductor issues [34][35] - CSX is focused on improving service reliability to convert more truck traffic to rail, emphasizing the importance of consistent service [60][62] Pricing Strategy and Market Dynamics - CSX expects stronger pricing on a same-store sales basis compared to 2025, with a focus on maintaining pricing above inflation [37] - The company is observing a positive trend in bid season, with more opportunities for intermodal services [43] Infrastructure Projects and New Services - The Howard Street Tunnel expansion is expected to enhance efficiency and capacity, allowing for double-stack operations [48][49] - The Southeast Mexico Express service is ramping up, providing efficient connections between major markets [52][54] Market Share and Competitive Landscape - CSX is focused on delivering superior service and innovative solutions to maintain and grow market share amid industry changes [70][71] - The company is collaborating with other railroads to enhance service offerings and improve reliability [73][76] Industrial Development Pipeline - CSX maintains a robust pipeline of approximately 600 projects, with ongoing collaboration with economic developers to expedite project implementation [86][88] Additional Important Insights - The company is actively working on converting truck traffic to rail by understanding customer needs and improving service reliability [60][62] - The focus on consistent service delivery is seen as critical for capturing more market share from trucking [75][76] - CSX is exploring inland port solutions to enhance intermodal service offerings and convert shorter haul opportunities from truck to rail [82][83]

Liberty All-Star Equity Fund sold CSX (CSX), Gartner (IT), and Tyler Technologies (TYL) in February and did not initiate any new positions during the month.As of the end of February, the fund’s top five holdings included Nvidia (NVDA), Alphabet (GOOG) (GOOGL), Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon (AMZN), and Broadcom (AVGO).Source: Press release ...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CSX Corporation (NASDAQ: CSX) today announced its latest group of high-ranking properties to receive CSX Select Site designation under the industrial development program. Twenty-one sites across 10 states have earned a gold, silver, or bronze rating based on an evaluation of a wide range of site characteristics. CSX worked with more than 30 communities to gather information and identify top candidates for the CSX Select Site program, which connects exp ...

Core Viewpoint - CSX Corporation has shown strong performance in the railroad sector, with a recent price target increase from Bank of America to $46, driven by expectations of cost structure improvements and infrastructure advantages leading to margin expansion and recovery in carload growth as industrial demand strengthens through 2026 [1] Financial Performance - CSX reported Q4 2025 intermodal revenue growth of 7% on 5% volume growth, supported by the completed Howard Street Tunnel upgrade, which enables double-stack container capability [1] - Free cash flow is expected to grow at least 50% compared to 2025, with capital expenditures projected to fall below $2.4 billion as major infrastructure projects conclude [1] Analyst Outlook - Bank of America revised its price target for CSX from $48 to $46, citing lower-than-expected carload growth of 1.9% year-over-year for Q1, down from a prior estimate of 4.4% [1] - Despite the target reduction, Bank of America maintains a Buy rating, highlighting solid operating performance and early signs of an industrial economic inflection as key reasons for optimism [1] Key Drivers of Stock Performance 1. **Free Cash Flow Recovery**: Expected to grow significantly, supporting dividend growth and share buybacks [1] 2. **Operating Margin Expansion**: Management anticipates 200 to 300 basis points of year-over-year operating margin expansion in 2026 through workforce optimization and cost discipline [1] 3. **Intermodal Momentum**: The completion of the Howard Street Tunnel upgrade provides a structural advantage for freight share gains, contributing to intermodal revenue growth [1] Conditions for Price Target Achievement - For CSX to reach the $46 price target, it requires low single-digit revenue growth, successful operating margin expansion, and recovery in carload volumes towards the revised growth estimate of 2.3% as industrial demand firms [1]

Core Viewpoint - CSX Corporation has shown strong performance in the railroad sector, with a share price increase of over 34% in the past year and a year-to-date gain of 9.22%, despite a recent pullback from its 52-week high [2] Group 1: Stock Performance and Analyst Outlook - Wall Street's consensus target for CSX is approximately $40.19, while Bank of America has set a revised price target of $46, indicating a significant premium to current levels [3] - Bank of America adjusted its target from $48 to $46, citing lower-than-expected carload growth of 1.9% year-over-year for Q1, down from a prior estimate of 4.4% [4] - Despite the target cut, Bank of America maintains a Buy rating, highlighting solid operating performance and early signs of industrial economic improvement [4] Group 2: Key Drivers of Performance - Intermodal revenue grew by 7% in Q4 2025, supported by a 5% increase in volume, with the Howard Street Tunnel upgrade facilitating double-stack container capability, enhancing freight share [6][7] - Management anticipates operating margin expansion of 200 to 300 basis points in 2026 through workforce optimization and cost discipline, with non-recurring charges in 2025 not expected to repeat [7] - Free cash flow is projected to increase by at least 50% compared to 2025, aided by capital expenditures falling below $2.4 billion as major infrastructure projects conclude, supporting dividend growth and share buybacks [7]