Blackston Financial Advisory Group LLC Has $330,000 Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Blackston Financial Advisory Group LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 11.3% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 1,449 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 147 shares during the period. Blackston Financial Advisory Group LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $330,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Howard Capital Management Group LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 16.4% in the third quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 2,860 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $705,000 after purchasing an additional 403 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its stake in Union Pacific by 51.4% in the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 63,565 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $15,668,000 after buying an additional 21,570 shares during the last quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in Union Pacific by 7.1% in the 3rd quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,875 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $709,000 after buying an additional 190 shares during the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 40,709 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $10,034,000 after acquiring an additional 523 shares during the period. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 19,878.6% during the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 896,040 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $220,856,000 after acquiring an additional 891,555 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Union Pacific stock opened at $245.43 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $237.68 and a 200-day moving average of $240.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $148.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $218.55 and a 52 week high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.71 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business 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. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.18%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 48.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total value of $1,636,740.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $1,875,000.00. Following the sale, the president now owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently commented on UNP. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Raymond James reaffirmed a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $285.00 price objective (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, January 24th. Susquehanna dropped 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $263.00 to $252.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Loop Capital lowered shares of Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $261.40.

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.