Quantessence Capital LLC Takes Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Quantessence Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm acquired 2,062 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $470,000.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Alta Advisers Ltd raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 19.9% in the fourth quarter. Alta Advisers Ltd now owns 2,038 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $465,000 after buying an additional 338 shares during the last quarter. Aldebaran Financial Inc. grew its stake in Union Pacific by 5.1% in the 4th quarter. Aldebaran Financial Inc. now owns 2,840 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $647,000 after acquiring an additional 139 shares during the period. Soros Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $1,213,000. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 18.8% during the 4th quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 15,547 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $3,545,000 after purchasing an additional 2,459 shares during the period. Finally, Stifel Financial Corp grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 2,328,689 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $531,043,000 after purchasing an additional 36,342 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.4 %

NYSE:UNP opened at $216.91 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $130.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $258.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $233.69 and its 200 day simple moving average is $236.10.

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, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.71 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were given a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.47%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Insider Activity

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $1,875,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on UNP shares. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Susquehanna decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Guggenheim upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and decreased their price target for the company from $260.00 to $244.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Benchmark increased their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average 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.