Berry Wealth Group LP Invests $2.21 Million in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Berry Wealth Group LP acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 8,984 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $2,207,000. Union Pacific makes up 2.0% of Berry Wealth Group LP’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th largest holding.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Cannell & Co. increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Cannell & Co. now owns 48,175 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $11,833,000 after acquiring an additional 928 shares during the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 3.8% in the 4th quarter. Cary Street Partners Asset Management LLC now owns 1,513 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $372,000 after buying an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Bridgewater Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Bridgewater Advisors Inc. now owns 10,564 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,595,000 after buying an additional 175 shares in the last quarter. MONECO Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 63.6% in the 4th quarter. MONECO Advisors LLC now owns 5,236 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,286,000 after buying an additional 2,035 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brighton Jones LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 10,360 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,545,000 after buying an additional 325 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNP has been the topic of a number of research reports. 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 report on Friday, April 26th. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Union Pacific from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $280.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. Benchmark raised their price target on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $266.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 10th. Raymond James restated a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $280.00 price target (up previously from $275.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 26th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, April 26th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $258.78.

Insider Activity

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,750 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $937,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the president now owns 56,682 shares in the company, valued at $14,170,500. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.7 %

UNP stock traded down $1.55 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $235.61. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 551,543 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,297,244. The company has a market cap of $143.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.07. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $243.95 and its 200 day moving average price is $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 12 month low of $190.71 and a 12 month high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.50 by $0.19. The business had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.97 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 44.34% and a net margin of 26.52%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.67 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.17 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed 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 2.21%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 49.62%.

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.