Convergence Financial LLC Grows Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Convergence Financial LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 3.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,695 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 250 shares during the quarter. Convergence Financial LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,755,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Cable Hill Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 7.1% in the 4th quarter. Cable Hill Partners LLC now owns 3,013 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $687,000 after buying an additional 201 shares in the last quarter. Heritage Investors Management Corp lifted its position in Union Pacific by 1.7% in the fourth quarter. Heritage Investors Management Corp now owns 29,928 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $6,825,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $408,000. NewEdge Wealth LLC grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 16.9% during the fourth quarter. NewEdge Wealth LLC now owns 107,764 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $24,574,000 after purchasing an additional 15,579 shares during the last quarter. Finally, National Pension Service grew its stake in Union Pacific by 5.2% during the 4th quarter. National Pension Service now owns 1,163,405 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $265,303,000 after buying an additional 57,407 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Loop Capital cut Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. Benchmark lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Guggenheim upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $261.40.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of UNP opened at $245.39 on Thursday. Union Pacific Co. has a twelve month low of $218.55 and a twelve month high of $258.07. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The firm has a market capitalization of $148.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.13, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $238.61 and its two-hundred day moving average is $240.83.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.71 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $1,875,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total value of $1,636,740.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Company 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.