Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Boosts Stock Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 35.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,226,100 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 323,525 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. owned about 0.20% of Union Pacific worth $279,600,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at $30,000. Fairscale Capital LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 265.7% in the 3rd 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter worth about $32,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP stock opened at $229.25 on Wednesday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $234.49 and its 200 day simple moving average is $238.87. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $218.55 and a 12-month high of $258.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $138.98 billion, a PE ratio of 21.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 1.06.

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 analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.78 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.33% and a return on equity of 41.79%. The business had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.14 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.51 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th were issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is presently 49.22%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages recently issued reports on UNP. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $260.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Susquehanna reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. TD Cowen decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $252.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. StockNews.com lowered Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $259.80.

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.