Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Sold by Bennett Associates Wealth Management

Bennett Associates Wealth Management cut its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 3.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,458 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 58 shares during the period. Bennett Associates Wealth Management’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $332,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at about $28,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Fairscale Capital LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the second quarter worth approximately $31,000. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. lifted its position in Union Pacific by 265.7% in the third quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 128 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the period. Finally, Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.7 %

Shares of UNP stock opened at $234.88 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79. Union Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $218.55 and a 1 year high of $258.66. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $234.14 and its 200 day simple moving average is $238.82. The firm has a market capitalization of $142.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.78 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.33% and a return on equity of 41.79%. The company had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.14 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.51 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.95 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th were given a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.28%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 49.22%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. Citigroup increased their price objective on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on Union Pacific from $262.00 to $253.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Evercore ISI lowered Union Pacific from an “outperform” rating to an “inline” rating and decreased their price target for the company from $254.00 to $247.00 in a research report on Wednesday, September 25th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $280.00 to $275.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 20th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $259.35.

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.