Black Diamond Financial LLC Sells 65 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Black Diamond Financial LLC trimmed its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 4.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,402 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 65 shares during the period. Black Diamond Financial LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $320,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. World Equity Group Inc. increased its position in Union Pacific by 82.8% in the 4th quarter. World Equity Group Inc. now owns 3,430 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $782,000 after buying an additional 1,554 shares in the last quarter. Fjarde AP Fonden Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund increased its position in Union Pacific by 46.6% in the 4th quarter. Fjarde AP Fonden Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund now owns 90,623 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $20,666,000 after buying an additional 28,800 shares in the last quarter. Delta Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $732,000. Ascent Wealth Partners LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Ascent Wealth Partners LLC now owns 22,435 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $5,116,000 after buying an additional 171 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Stevens Capital Partners increased its position in Union Pacific by 9.4% in the 4th quarter. Stevens Capital Partners now owns 44,279 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $10,097,000 after buying an additional 3,807 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Union Pacific stock opened at $245.43 on Monday. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $218.55 and a 12 month high of $258.66. 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 business’s 50 day simple moving average is $237.68 and its 200 day simple moving average is $240.73. The company has a market cap of $148.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.13, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 EPS 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 business earned $2.71 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on 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 sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the business’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 sale, 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 disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently commented on UNP shares. TD Cowen boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Raymond James reissued a “strong-buy” rating and set a $285.00 price objective (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, January 24th. Benchmark boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Guggenheim boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $261.40.

Union Pacific 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.