O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC Boosts Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP – Get Rating) by 191.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 189,947 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 124,837 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific accounts for approximately 0.8% of O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 22nd biggest holding. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $47,854,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Rational Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 127.7% in the fourth quarter. Rational Advisors LLC now owns 107 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $32,000. Ahrens Investment Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $36,000. Retirement Planning Co of New England Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth about $38,000. Finally, Dixon Hughes Goodman Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth about $39,000. 80.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Shares of NYSE UNP traded down $8.49 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $216.50. 5,428,059 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,634,651. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $247.31 and a 200 day simple moving average of $246.24. The stock has a market capitalization of $135.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.93, a PEG ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.58, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.71. Union Pacific Co. has a twelve month low of $195.68 and a twelve month high of $278.94.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP – Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 21st. The railroad operator reported $2.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.55 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $5.86 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.76 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 30.06% and a return on equity of 50.20%. The business’s revenue was up 17.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.00 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.64 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock buyback plan on Thursday, February 3rd that allows the company to repurchase 100,000,000 shares. This repurchase authorization allows the railroad operator to reacquire shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are generally a sign that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 31st will be given a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 27th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.40%. This is a boost from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.18. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 44.87%.

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 4,018 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $1,004,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 41,177 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $10,294,250. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on UNP shares. Raymond James increased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $280.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, April 22nd. UBS Group lowered shares of Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $283.00 to $267.00 in a research note on Friday, April 22nd. Susquehanna increased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $306.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 7th. Cowen increased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $236.00 to $257.00 in a research note on Friday, January 21st. Finally, Citigroup lowered shares of Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $287.00 to $235.00 in a research note on Thursday. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $265.48.

Union Pacific Profile (Get Rating)

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, and other agricultural users; petroleum, and liquid petroleum gases; and construction products, industrial chemicals, plastics, forest products, specialized products, metals and ores, soda ash, and sand, as well as finished automobiles, automotive parts, and merchandise in intermodal containers.

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