Loop Capital analyst Rick Paterson notes that Norfolk Southern (NSC) stockholders "may be feeling a little nervous" over the prospect of industry veteran Hunter Harrison taking over at competitor CSX (CSX), but he sees such an executive change as likely to be a "market share neutral event." As evidence, Paterson points to the fact that during his tenure at Canadian National (CNI) there was not a material share shift away from "a poorly run" Canadian Pacific (CP), nor was there a bounce in CP's share versus CN once Hunter took over there. Paterson has a Hold rating and $122 price target on Norfolk Southern shares.

Ohio-based Ancora Holdings Group , which owns a large equity stake in Norfolk Southern Corporation updated shareholders on its campaign to elect seven unaffiliated and qualified candidates o the Company's 13-member Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 9 Vote on the BLUE Proxy Card to elect the entire Shareholder Slate at the Annual Meeting. "Fellow Shareholder, Ancora is a meaningful investor in Norfolk Southern. We're asking you to elect seven new members to Norfolk Southern's 13-person Board at the May 9th Annual Meeting. Given the scope of this ask, we committed at the outset of our campaign to provide you with the respect and transparency an owner deserves when considering a change to a majority of a board of directors. As our campaign enters its final weeks, we will fulfill this commitment by asking you to focus on substantive matters and ignore the fearmongering, spamming and eleventh-hour stunts that often seep into the last days of contested elections. Rather than inundate you, we will continue to ask that you focus on one defining question when making your ultimate voting decision: Do you want Norfolk Southern to have leadership with the experience and judgment to properly implement Precision Scheduled Railroading so the Company can finally achieve the service, safety and long-term value realized by every other publicly traded Class I rail? If the answer is "yes," this Annual Meeting represents your best opportunity to usher in the type of change that drove lasting turnarounds at rails such as Canadian Pacific and CSX. Our position is supported by three point..."

Deutsche Bank placed a "Catalyst Call: Buy" on shares of Union Pacific (UNP) as a short-term investment idea. With all the attention Norfolk Southern (NSC) is getting in recent months, it is easy to overlook developments at other railroads, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm says Union Pacific is now the worst performing pail stock year-to-date. However, operating metrics "clearly show that UNP's renewed efforts on operations are gaining traction," contends Deutsche Bank. It keeps a Buy rating on the shares with a $266 price target.

Raymond James raised the firm's price target on Canadian Pacific Kansas City to C$130 from C$120 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares. While Q1 was volatile from a weather standpoint, the firm entered Q2 "even more confident in the traffic recovery that emerged late last year" and it remains "demonstrably upbeat on the outlook for both Canadian railroads," the analyst tells investors.