Hantz Financial Services Inc. Boosts Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Hantz Financial Services Inc. raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 10.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 69,343 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 6,452 shares during the quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $15,813,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of UNP. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. grew its stake in Union Pacific by 53.9% during the fourth quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 839,672 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $191,479,000 after acquiring an additional 294,230 shares in the last quarter. R Squared Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at about $43,000. BetterWealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at about $541,000. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.5% in the fourth quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,020 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $689,000 after buying an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BSW Wealth Partners boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 2.5% during the fourth quarter. BSW Wealth Partners now owns 5,698 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,299,000 after buying an additional 139 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

UNP opened at $249.45 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $151.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.91, a PEG ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 1.06. 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 12-month low of $218.55 and a 12-month high of $258.66. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $234.77 and its 200-day simple moving average is $239.94.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.33% and a return on equity of 41.79%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.71 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th were issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.15%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 49.22%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have issued reports on UNP shares. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Raymond James restated a “strong-buy” rating and set a $285.00 price objective (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $263.30.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total value of $1,636,740.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $1,875,000.00. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.