Cvfg LLC Makes New Investment in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Cvfg LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 3,921 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $894,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Constitution Capital LLC raised its position in Union Pacific by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. Constitution Capital LLC now owns 22,128 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $5,046,000 after buying an additional 760 shares during the last quarter. Central Valley Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 7.1% in the fourth quarter. Central Valley Advisors LLC now owns 9,113 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,078,000 after acquiring an additional 605 shares during the period. Certified Advisory Corp increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 4.7% in the fourth quarter. Certified Advisory Corp now owns 1,841 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $420,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the period. Werlinich Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 0.3% during the fourth quarter. Werlinich Asset Management LLC now owns 36,650 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $8,349,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ritholtz Wealth Management lifted its position in Union Pacific by 37.0% during the fourth quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 30,983 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $7,065,000 after purchasing an additional 8,372 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on UNP. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $280.00 to $275.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 20th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on Union Pacific from $262.00 to $253.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Sanford C. Bernstein cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $277.00 to $272.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, Susquehanna lowered their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $259.35.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE UNP opened at $234.88 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.77. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $234.14 and its two-hundred day moving average is $238.82. The firm has a market capitalization of $142.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $218.55 and a fifty-two week high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.78 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion during 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 company’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.51 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th were paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.28%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 49.22%.

About Union Pacific

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.