Dakota Wealth Management Increases Position in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Dakota Wealth Management lifted its stake in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 132.3% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 31,633 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 18,017 shares during the quarter. Dakota Wealth Management’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $7,317,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 9.8% in the third quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA now owns 52,849 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $12,492,000 after purchasing an additional 4,707 shares during the last quarter. Midwest Trust Co lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. Midwest Trust Co now owns 281,036 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $66,428,000 after purchasing an additional 7,759 shares during the last quarter. CX Institutional boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 39.8% in the 3rd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 65,826 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $15,559,000 after purchasing an additional 18,742 shares in the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 15.1% in the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 135,188 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $31,955,000 after purchasing an additional 17,696 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AustralianSuper Pty Ltd purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter worth $802,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $238.91 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $141.77 billion, a PE ratio of 19.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 0.91. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $248.16 and its 200 day moving average price is $234.77. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1 year low of $204.66 and a 1 year high of $268.14.

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

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared 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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 46.12%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a “market perform” rating and issued a $295.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Union Pacific from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Evercore upgraded shares of Union Pacific from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $262.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating and set a $270.00 target price (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $264.86.

Union Pacific Company 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.