Essex Financial Services Inc. Has $3.31 Million Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Essex Financial Services Inc. increased its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 0.3% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 13,489 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the period. Essex Financial Services Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $3,313,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. BluePath Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Stuart Chaussee & Associates Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $36,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $44,000. Finally, Hexagon Capital Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 48.6% during the third quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 309 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $63,000 after buying an additional 101 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

UNP traded down $1.19 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $235.97. 693,859 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,298,840. The company has a market capitalization of $143.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.50, a PEG ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.07. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $243.95 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $235.77. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $190.71 and a 52-week high of $258.66.

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 the consensus estimate of $2.50 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.97 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 44.34% and a net margin of 26.52%. Union Pacific’s quarterly revenue was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.67 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 29th were issued a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 28th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.20%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 49.62%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $248.00 to $274.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 11th. TD Cowen lifted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $252.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, April 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $237.00 to $243.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 9th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $231.00 to $248.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, April 12th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein raised shares of Union Pacific from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $280.00 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $258.78.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,750 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 15th. The shares were 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 document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.26% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.