Centaurus Financial Inc. Grows Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Centaurus Financial Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 3.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,859 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 164 shares during the quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,193,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 211.4% in the fourth quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 109 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 74 shares during the last quarter. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Stuart Chaussee & Associates Inc. bought a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Fortitude Family Office LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $44,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP stock traded down $0.02 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $222.10. 2,130,498 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,435,945. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $235.37 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $240.73. The company has a market cap of $135.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.19, a PEG ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $199.06 and a 12 month high of $258.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.93.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.69 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.50 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 44.34% and a net margin of 26.52%. The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.97 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.67 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 28th. Investors of record on Friday, May 31st will be paid a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 31st. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.34%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 49.62%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently issued reports on UNP. Benchmark upped their price target on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $266.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 10th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, April 26th. Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $271.00 to $273.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, April 26th. TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $252.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, April 26th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Union Pacific from $198.00 to $210.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, April 26th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $260.70.

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.