Pacific Capital Partners Ltd Boosts Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Pacific Capital Partners Ltd increased its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 262.4% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 25,520 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 18,479 shares during the period. Union Pacific makes up 6.3% of Pacific Capital Partners Ltd’s holdings, making the stock its 4th biggest holding. Pacific Capital Partners Ltd’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $5,903,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. J. Safra Sarasin Holding AG bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth about $240,000. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. now owns 232,201 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $53,713,000 after purchasing an additional 3,722 shares during the period. Neumann Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 11.1% during the 4th quarter. Neumann Capital Management LLC now owns 1,301 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $301,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares in the last quarter. AA Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $326,000. Finally, Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $239,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Citigroup reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $270.00 price objective (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, December 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Barclays reissued 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. Finally, Raymond James Financial reaffirmed a “strong-buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $264.86.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE UNP opened at $239.30 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $142.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.99, a PEG ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $248.54 and a 200 day simple moving average of $235.36. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $268.14.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.89% and a net margin of 29.12%.The business had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.15 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.91 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 46.12%.

Union Pacific Profile

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.