Bennett Associates Wealth Management Trims Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Bennett Associates Wealth Management cut its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 3.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund 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 have also modified their holdings of the business. Certified Advisory Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 4.7% during the fourth quarter. Certified Advisory Corp now owns 1,841 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $420,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares during the period. Werlinich Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 0.3% during the fourth quarter. Werlinich Asset Management LLC now owns 36,650 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $8,349,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the period. Ritholtz Wealth Management raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 37.0% during the fourth quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 30,983 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $7,065,000 after purchasing an additional 8,372 shares in the last quarter. Northside Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 40.6% in the fourth quarter. Northside Capital Management LLC now owns 1,732 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $395,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the period. Finally, Flywheel Private Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $249,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.7 %

UNP stock opened at $234.88 on Friday. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $218.55 and a 52 week high of $258.66. The company has a market cap of $142.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.57, a PEG ratio of 2.02 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 1.79. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $234.14 and a 200-day simple moving average of $238.82.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.78 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.14 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.33% and a return on equity of 41.79%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.51 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.95 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on UNP shares. Bank of America dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $273.00 to $270.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 24th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $280.00 to $275.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 20th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $262.00 to $253.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target 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.