Sterling Financial Group Inc. Has $473,000 Stock Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Sterling Financial Group Inc. lessened its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 27.8% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 2,076 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 800 shares during the quarter. Sterling Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $473,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of UNP. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter valued at $28,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the third quarter valued at about $30,000. Fairscale Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at about $31,000. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 265.7% in the third quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 128 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the period. Finally, Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter worth about $32,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Price Performance

UNP stock opened at $234.88 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.77. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $234.14 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $238.82. The company has a market capitalization of $142.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $218.55 and a 52-week high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 earnings per share (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 the consensus estimate of $6.14 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.51 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th were given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.28%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 49.22%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently commented on UNP shares. Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $260.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Sanford C. Bernstein dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $277.00 to $272.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. TD Cowen cut their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $252.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Susquehanna cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $259.35.

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.