By otakuyassine3@gmail.com 
Shepherd Financial Partners LLC reduced its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP – Free Report) by 35.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,226 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 669 shares during the period. Shepherd Financial Partners LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $280,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of UNP. Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $366,000. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 4.3% during the fourth quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 76,492 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $17,443,000 after buying an additional 3,127 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. grew its stake in Union Pacific by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 1,387,382 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $316,379,000 after acquiring an additional 25,831 shares during the period. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $16,747,000. Finally, Ledyard National Bank increased its stake in Union Pacific by 33.2% in the fourth quarter. Ledyard National Bank now owns 13,591 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $3,099,000 after purchasing an additional 3,390 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
A number of research firms recently issued reports on UNP. TD Cowen boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Guggenheim raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Loop Capital downgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Susquehanna lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $261.40.
Get Our Latest Report on Union Pacific
Union Pacific Stock Down 0.6 %
Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $242.12 on Friday. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $218.55 and a 12-month high of $258.66. The company has a market cap of $146.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $235.20 and its 200 day simple moving average is $240.17.
Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.71 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 12.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Union Pacific Dividend Announcement
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.21%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 48.33%.
Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific
In related news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction on Friday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $1,875,000.00. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.
Union Pacific Company Profile
Union Pacific Corporation, through its subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad Company, operates in the railroad business in the United States. The company offers transportation services for grain and grain products, fertilizers, food and refrigerated products, and coal and renewables to grain processors, animal feeders, ethanol producers, renewable biofuel producers, and other agricultural users; and construction products, industrial chemicals, plastics, forest products, specialized products, metals and ores, petroleum, liquid petroleum gases, soda ash, and sand, as well as finished automobiles, automotive parts, and merchandise in intermodal containers.
Further Reading
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