Providence First Trust Co Invests $106,000 in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Providence First Trust Co bought a new stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 465 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $106,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Howard Capital Management Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 16.4% in the 3rd quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 2,860 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $705,000 after buying an additional 403 shares during the period. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in Union Pacific by 25.2% in the 3rd quarter. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC now owns 2,050 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $473,000 after acquiring an additional 413 shares in the last quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 2.7% during the third quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC now owns 9,494 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,191,000 after purchasing an additional 251 shares during the period. SteelPeak Wealth LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 18.7% during the third quarter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC now owns 2,379 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $586,000 after purchasing an additional 375 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JFS Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 6.2% in the third quarter. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,391 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $343,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on UNP shares. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. TD Cowen upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Benchmark upped their price target on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $261.40.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP opened at $246.94 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $239.46 and a 200 day moving average price of $240.93. The stock has a market cap of $149.22 billion, a PE ratio of 22.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 1-year low of $218.55 and a 1-year high of $258.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 prior year, the company posted $2.71 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.17%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.33%.

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.