Levin Capital Strategies L.P. Increases Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Levin Capital Strategies L.P. lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 666.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 50,267 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 43,705 shares during the period. Union Pacific accounts for approximately 1.3% of Levin Capital Strategies L.P.’s portfolio, making the stock its 25th largest holding. Levin Capital Strategies L.P.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $12,347,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 48.6% during the third quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 309 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $63,000 after purchasing an additional 101 shares during the period. Kingswood Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the third quarter worth $296,000. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 10.5% in the third quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 63,947 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $13,022,000 after acquiring an additional 6,071 shares in the last quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 8.1% in the third quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC now owns 3,154 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $642,000 after acquiring an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 387.8% in the third quarter. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC now owns 439 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $89,000 after acquiring an additional 349 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,750 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $937,500.00. Following the sale, the president now owns 56,682 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,170,500. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP stock traded up $2.57 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $237.53. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 1,136,761 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,296,434. Union Pacific Co. has a 1-year low of $190.71 and a 1-year high of $258.66. The company has a market cap of $144.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.43, a PEG ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.93. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $243.62 and its two-hundred day moving average is $235.76.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.50 by $0.19. The business had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.97 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.52% and a return on equity of 44.34%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.67 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.21 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 29th were issued a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.19%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 49.62%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNP has been the subject of several recent research reports. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, April 8th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $250.00 price objective for the company. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $231.00 to $248.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, April 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $237.00 to $243.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 9th. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $235.00 to $248.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $280.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $258.78.

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.