Norfolk Southern (NSC) Approaching Resistance With Bearish Technicals

Posted: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 8:23 AM EDT
By: Market Intelligence Center Staff

Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) closed yesterday at $46.31. So far the stock has hit a 52-week low of $26.69 and 52-week high of $54.76. Norfolk Southern stock has been showing support around 45.37 and resistance in the 48.07 range. Technical indicators for the stock are Bearish and S&P gives NSC a positive 4 STAR (out of 5) buy rating. NSC appears on the Investors Observer Momentum Plays list. For a hedged play on this stock, look at a Jun '10 46 covered call for a net debit in the $42.81 area. That is also the break even stock price for this trade. This covered call has a 130 day duration, provides 7.56% downside protection and a 7.45% assigned return rate for a 20.92% annualized return rate (comparison purposes only). A lower cost hedged play for this stock would use a longer term call option in place of the covered call stock purchase. To use this strategy look at going long the NSC Jan '11 30 Call and selling the Jun '10 46 call for a $13.85 debit. The trade has a 130 day life and would provide 5.31% downside protection and a 15.52% assigned return rate for a 44.00% annualized return rate (for comparison purposes only). Norfolk Southern has a current annual dividend yield of 2.90%. [ATU-Seven Summits Research]