R.H. Investment Group LLC Takes Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

R.H. Investment Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm bought 16,720 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $3,813,000. Union Pacific comprises approximately 3.6% of R.H. Investment Group LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 16th largest position.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter worth about $28,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 265.7% in the 3rd quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 128 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 93 shares during the period. Fairscale Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Dunhill Financial LLC raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 111.5% during the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 129 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently weighed in on UNP. Evercore ISI lowered shares of Union Pacific from an “outperform” rating to an “inline” rating and lowered their price target for the company from $254.00 to $247.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $277.00 to $272.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on Union Pacific from $280.00 to $275.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 20th. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and set a $266.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Citigroup upped their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $259.80.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $229.25 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $138.98 billion, a PE ratio of 21.05, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 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. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $234.49 and a 200 day simple moving average of $238.87. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.78 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.14 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.33% and a return on equity of 41.79%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.51 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.94 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th were given a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 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.