Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Stake Reduced by Renaissance Investment Group LLC

Renaissance Investment Group LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 1.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 48,765 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 734 shares during the period. Union Pacific makes up 2.3% of Renaissance Investment Group LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 18th biggest holding. Renaissance Investment Group LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $11,120,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Artemis Investment Management LLP grew its position in Union Pacific by 80.8% in the fourth quarter. Artemis Investment Management LLP now owns 18,913 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $4,313,000 after buying an additional 8,452 shares during the last quarter. Kelly Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth $3,813,000. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 8.9% during the fourth quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,930 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,124,000 after purchasing an additional 403 shares during the period. Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 12.7% during the fourth quarter. Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,468 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $335,000 after purchasing an additional 166 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Astoria Portfolio Advisors LLC. boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 19.6% in the 4th quarter. Astoria Portfolio Advisors LLC. now owns 2,103 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $482,000 after purchasing an additional 345 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have issued reports on UNP. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $263.00 to $252.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. TD Cowen cut their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $252.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and issued a $266.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Raymond James lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. Nine 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’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $259.35.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.4 %

Union Pacific stock opened at $233.99 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $141.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.49, a P/E/G ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 1.06. 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 $233.83 and its 200-day simple moving average is $238.85. 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 (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.78 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.14 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 27.33%. Union Pacific’s quarterly revenue was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.51 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th were given a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 49.22%.

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.