Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Acquired by Chesapeake Wealth Management

Chesapeake Wealth Management lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 2.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,295 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 176 shares during the period. Chesapeake Wealth Management’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,892,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Pacer Advisors Inc. increased its position in Union Pacific by 25.5% in the second quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 52,344 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $11,843,000 after buying an additional 10,646 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 13.6% in the second quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 120,394 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $27,240,000 after purchasing an additional 14,388 shares in the last quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 179.9% in the second quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC now owns 8,427 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,907,000 after purchasing an additional 5,416 shares in the last quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 117.1% in the second quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 169,378 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $38,323,000 after purchasing an additional 91,361 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fairscale Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter worth $31,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $233.99 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $233.83 and a 200 day moving average price of $239.04. The company has a market cap of $141.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.49, a P/E/G ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79. Union Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $218.55 and a 1 year high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.78 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.14 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 27.33%. The firm’s revenue was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.51 earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th were paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.22%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNP has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com cut Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 1st. Evercore ISI cut Union Pacific from an “outperform” rating to an “inline” rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $254.00 to $247.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. Sanford C. Bernstein decreased their price target 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. Benchmark reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $266.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $263.00 to $252.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $259.35.

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.