Heritage Wealth Advisors Boosts Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Heritage Wealth Advisors increased its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 0.9% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 149,836 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 1,302 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific accounts for about 1.7% of Heritage Wealth Advisors’ holdings, making the stock its 24th biggest position. Heritage Wealth Advisors’ holdings in Union Pacific were worth $34,169,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Compass Financial Services Inc purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Dunhill Financial LLC grew its position in Union Pacific by 111.5% during the 3rd quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 129 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. PrairieView Partners LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, Kentucky Trust Co purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at about $40,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently issued reports on UNP. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $295.00 price target on the stock. Loop Capital cut Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and cut their price target for the stock from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Raymond James restated a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $285.00 target price (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Guggenheim boosted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” 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, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $263.00.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of UNP stock opened at $235.90 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $142.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.27, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Union Pacific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $218.55 and a fifty-two week high of $258.07. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $242.98 and a 200-day simple moving average of $239.73.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) 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 previous year, the company earned $2.71 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.27%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.33%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related 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 transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares in the company, 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 can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company’s 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 completion of the transaction, the president now owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This trade represents 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 currently 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.