Beacon Investment Advisory Services Inc. Trims Stock Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Beacon Investment Advisory Services Inc. cut its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 47.8% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 56,627 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 51,878 shares during the quarter. Beacon Investment Advisory Services Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $12,913,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of UNP. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the second quarter worth approximately $28,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the third quarter worth approximately $30,000. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. increased its stake in Union Pacific by 265.7% in the third quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 128 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the period. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Dunhill Financial LLC raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 111.5% during the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 129 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently commented on UNP. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. Citigroup raised their price target on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. TD Cowen dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $252.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Susquehanna reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Raymond James upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $259.35.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.4 %

NYSE:UNP opened at $235.77 on Thursday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $233.54 and its two-hundred day moving average is $239.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $142.94 billion, a PE ratio of 21.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $218.55 and a 12 month high of $258.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.63.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.78 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 27.33%. The company had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.14 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.51 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th were given a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 9th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.27%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 49.22%.

Union Pacific Company 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.