Deprince Race & Zollo Inc. Acquires 19,784 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Deprince Race & Zollo Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 10.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 218,555 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 19,784 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific makes up approximately 1.0% of Deprince Race & Zollo Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest position. Deprince Race & Zollo Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $51,660,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1,400.0% during the 1st quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 120 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 112 shares during the last quarter. Howard Hughes Medical Institute bought a new position in Union Pacific during the second quarter worth $30,000. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. bought a new position in Union Pacific during the second quarter worth $31,000. Total Investment Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Access Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at about $32,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, October 24th. Barclays restated an “overweight” rating and set a $285.00 price objective (up from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Citigroup upped their target price on Union Pacific from $263.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, October 24th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $277.00 to $275.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $260.33.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.8%

NYSE UNP opened at $233.23 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.75. The company has a market cap of $138.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.82, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a 50 day moving average of $227.71 and a 200-day moving average of $226.71. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $256.84.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.08 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.99 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $6.24 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.24 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 42.23% and a net margin of 28.73%.The company’s revenue was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.75 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Investors of record on Friday, December 5th will be given a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 5th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.4%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 46.90%.

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacific’s core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two‑thirds of the United States.