CSX CorpCSXWEAK BUYMar 12, 2013Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Jun 05, 2026. Market Open.
It broke out last December. After consolidating, it's breaking out again. For traders, he likes $43, the rising 50-day average, at a minimum will lock in a gain but allow you to stay in the stock long enough. For investors, $43-44 is support and will take out $47. There's earnings growth. Will pass $50.
The market is speculating if CSX will merge with another railroad, but CS has only 3 years under this president to do it, since another president likely won't give that much latitude to an already-concentrated industry. And the Norfolk Southern-Union Pacific is hitting speed bumps. He wouldn't buy CSX based on takeover speculation, but on improving business. Yesterday's quarter: a modest top and bottom line miss, but strong operating metrics and a 1% YOY volume increase and offered a positive full-year forecast including revenue growth and operating margin expansion. CSX will do fine in a stagnant economy and be a big winner if the economy picks up.
Rail sector is one of the strongest groups in the market. Biggest driver for the industry is the increased car loadings for oil, petroleum products and chemicals, which the pipelines can’t handle. Prefers to focus on rails that are more specific to this theme. CSX is more focused on the East Coast. He would prefer the West Coast such as the Union Pacific (UNP-N) that benefits from oil rail car loadings, but also North-South trade between the US and Mexico. Would also consider Canadian National (CNR-T) and Canadian Pacific (CP-T).