Any railfans here take their love of railroads a step further by owning railroad stock? If so, which company? I myself own a few shares of Norfolk Southern, partly because it’s my favorite railroad but mostly because I feel it’s a solid investment. Anyone else out there willing to admit which companies they invest in?
CN.
Purchased Illinois Central stock years ago.
Generally, I do not consider purchasing railroad stocks at this time as they do not meet general financial criteria such as ROE, ROIC, and free cash flow that I have established for owning companies.
If I could buy at a steep discount, which would meet the financial thresholds on the above items, I would. But, at a steep discount.
Emotions such not enter into stock ownership. Just the facts.
ed
I own NS because I think the long-term possibilities are good–had to overrule my broker, though, who is generally bearish on transportation stocks, air, rail or ship, as is his firm.
I would have loved to buy CP at US$27.40 two years ago or BNSF almost as cheaply, but, as well as those roads are run, their current stock prices are certainly no bargain.
In all fairness, a fair number of mutual funds carry UP in their portfolio.
I’m the sole stock owner, CEO and Chairman of the board of the Chicago, Savannah, Clinton and Pacific! [:P]
It’s generally a grain hauling local route that falls short of its namesake ocean by only 2000 miles. We’re starting to look pretty smart with the Consolidations we’ve kept around, though. Coal is still pretty cheap, and fuel for those new fangled diesels is getting a bit pricey!
NS for the heck of it.
Adrianspeeder
Wanted to buy but never did.
I own the Great Lakes and Atlantic Railroad but it doesn’t pay much because it’s make-believe.[:D]
I would love to own some BNSF stock. The only problem is…I wouldn’t even know where to start. Allan.
Was given six shares of NS stock as a safety award when I was a conductor a few years ago. Got a whopping 78 cent dividend check last week.
BNSF fan:
First, you might go to their website and look under Investor Relations. Find out if they have a direct purchase plan.
With the DPP, you can send them a check and they will send you a statement which shows how many shares you own. Dividends can be reinvested, so your investment grows. You might be able to add $$$ to the account, by sending them a check when you have a couple of bucks.
I did that years ago with IC stock, after I had purchased 100 shares. It was a very good investment.
ed
200 sh of NS
376+ of CSX
I was also one of the last 60 private stockholders of the North Carolina Railroad before the State of NC bought us out about 10 years ago. . For those that dont know NCRR owns the track between Charlotte and Morehead City, NC, including the NS mainline from Charlotte to Greensboro.
I’m wanting to buy NS stock.
ICMR
250 Shares of NS and about 50 shares of Railamerica in my IRA. In short to quote the Motley Fool newsletter “Boring is beautiful” with dividends reinvested, growth under good management, and real estate making money is the only way to go., I have never lost a dime with a well run railroad. Rather I wish I had bought more of NS when it was trading in the low 20’s a couple of years back. NS (my personal and financial favorite) has never disappointed me. David Goode and Co do very little wrong on the above mentioned matters.
BNSF Railfan, I contacted NS here a while back about how to go about purchasing stock in their company. They said that I should go through a private broker such as Edward Jones Investments. I’m sure that BNSF would probably want you to buy stock through an investment agency also. If you really want to know how to go about it, just contact BNSF via e-mail and they’ll tell you how to go about doing it.
My dad and I have a share of UP.
Anyone can buy stock through a discount broker. Probably the easiest way, if the buyer has no brokerage accounts of any kind open, is to ally oneself with one of the big no-load mutual fund companies (Fidelity, T. Rowe Price, or Vanguard). It isn’t necessary to buy mutual funds based on stock; just open a money-market account and put in more than enough to buy your stock. Generally a “round lot” is 100 shares. Now this is important–if you want to sign up for NS’ (or most anyone else’s) dividend reinvestment program, you must ask for a stock certificate IN YOUR OWN NAME, not in a so-called “street name” which would allow the mutual-fund or brokerage to hold your shares for you. (In the latter case, they are still your shares but many people find it helpful not to have to worry about possessing a stock certificate.) I think most people will find the Investor-oriented services at NS to be very useful and helpful.
And I am in no way giving advice because I am not qualified to do so.
…Can’t say for sure but very possibly do in some Mutual Funds.
475 shares of UP. Getting ready to buy KSU.
Virlon
If NS dosn’t get there first. (Run Beauty Run)
I use a company called Sharebuilder. You can find them at www.sharebuilder.com
They have $4 commissions on automatic investments, and something like $16 commissions on real time trades. You can buy as much or as little of any stock or mutual fund you want, and can have money deposited into your account directly from your checking account every month for reinvestment, and you can have your dividends reinvested too. It’s extremely simple, and if you’re interested in just owning BNSF for the heck of it and not looking to get into heavy trading this would be a good way to go.