Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Shares Sold by Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc.

Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. reduced its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 6.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 44,283 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 2,933 shares during the period. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $10,467,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in UNP. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $1,856,340,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in Union Pacific by 22,618.2% during the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,624,636 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $603,876,000 after acquiring an additional 2,613,083 shares during the period. Amundi raised its position in Union Pacific by 35.6% during the second quarter. Amundi now owns 4,782,577 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,134,236,000 after acquiring an additional 1,255,231 shares during the period. Rothschild & Co Wealth Management UK Ltd lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 3,536.2% during the second quarter. Rothschild & Co Wealth Management UK Ltd now owns 1,011,677 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $232,767,000 after purchasing an additional 983,855 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 32.8% in the second quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 3,152,042 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $725,222,000 after purchasing an additional 778,411 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently weighed in on UNP shares. BMO Capital Markets set a $255.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Wednesday. Barclays reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $285.00 target price (up previously from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 price target on Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Susquehanna reiterated a “positive” rating and set a $272.00 price target (up from $257.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, September 25th. Finally, Loop Capital upgraded Union Pacific from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating and raised their price objective for the company from $214.00 to $227.00 in a report on Tuesday, September 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and twelve have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $259.46.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE UNP opened at $229.83 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.75. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $229.61 and its two-hundred day moving average is $227.20. The firm has a market capitalization of $136.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 0.99. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $204.66 and a fifty-two week high of $256.84.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.99 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $6.24 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate 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 for the quarter was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.75 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 5th were paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 5th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 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.