Blue Chip Partners LLC Boosts Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Blue Chip Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 5.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 70,614 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 3,853 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific accounts for 1.8% of Blue Chip Partners LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 25th biggest holding. Blue Chip Partners LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $17,344,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of UNP. BluePath Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the third quarter worth $25,000. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Stuart Chaussee & Associates Inc. purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $36,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $44,000. Finally, Hexagon Capital Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 48.6% in the third quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 309 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $63,000 after acquiring an additional 101 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP traded down $0.76 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $242.79. The stock had a trading volume of 2,255,458 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,120,671. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $190.45 and a 52 week high of $258.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.67. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $244.27 and its 200-day moving average price is $235.33. The company has a market capitalization of $148.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.17, a P/E/G ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 1.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.69 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.50 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 44.34% and a net margin of 26.52%. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.97 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.67 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 29th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 29th were issued a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.14%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 49.62%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $198.00 to $210.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday. TD Cowen upped their target price on Union Pacific from $252.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday. Raymond James reiterated a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $280.00 target price (up from $275.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday. UBS Group upped their price target on Union Pacific from $235.00 to $248.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on Union Pacific from $231.00 to $248.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, April 12th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $258.78.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,750 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $937,500.00. Following the transaction, the president now directly owns 56,682 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,170,500. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

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.