Loop Capital analyst Rick Paterson raised his price target on Kansas City Southern to $144 and kept his Buy rating after its better than expected Q2 results, saying the company generated "nice traction" with its precision scheduled railroading initiative. The analyst is also positive on the company's outlook seeking to reduce its capital spending from $650M to below $600M next year and to about 18% of sales from 20% in subsequent years. Paterson adds that as Kansas City Southern plays "catch-up" to larger rails, its "elusive" free cash flow growth should start to trend more favorably.