Wexford Capital LP Boosts Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Wexford Capital LP boosted its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 1,030.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 13,565 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 12,365 shares during the period. Wexford Capital LP’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $3,093,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 21.8% during the 4th quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC now owns 3,678 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $839,000 after acquiring an additional 659 shares during the period. Merit Financial Group LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 38.0% in the fourth quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 23,475 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $5,353,000 after buying an additional 6,470 shares in the last quarter. Sanibel Captiva Trust Company Inc. raised its stake in Union Pacific by 23.4% in the fourth quarter. Sanibel Captiva Trust Company Inc. now owns 6,911 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,576,000 after buying an additional 1,309 shares in the last quarter. Premier Path Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 4.4% in the fourth quarter. Premier Path Wealth Partners LLC now owns 3,597 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $820,000 after buying an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Smith Salley Wealth Management raised its stake in Union Pacific by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. Smith Salley Wealth Management now owns 74,045 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $16,885,000 after buying an additional 544 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP opened at $231.35 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $258.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $138.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.86, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.07. The business has a fifty day moving average of $224.16 and a 200 day moving average of $233.69.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.73 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.11 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.69 EPS. The business’s revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.32%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 48.29%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 27th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Stephens reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $255.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $257.50.

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.