Hilltop National Bank Trims Stock Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Hilltop National Bank cut its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 3.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 7,646 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 242 shares during the period. Hilltop National Bank’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,744,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter worth about $28,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Fairscale Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 265.7% during the 3rd quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 128 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the period. Finally, Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP stock traded down $5.00 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $226.82. The company had a trading volume of 661,488 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,232,140. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $218.55 and a 12-month high of $258.66. The company has a market capitalization of $137.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.83, a PEG ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 1.06. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $234.80 and a 200-day moving average of $238.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.77.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.78 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.14 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.33% and a return on equity of 41.79%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.51 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.94 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th were paid a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.36%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 49.22%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNP has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $263.00 to $252.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Evercore ISI lowered Union Pacific from an “outperform” rating to an “inline” rating and cut their price target for the company from $254.00 to $247.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. Bank of America lowered their price target on Union Pacific from $273.00 to $270.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, September 24th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $260.30.

Union Pacific 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.