Venturi Wealth Management LLC Buys 589 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Venturi Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 10.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 6,050 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 589 shares during the quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,380,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 1,306.3% during the third quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 450 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $111,000 after acquiring an additional 418 shares during the period. Howard Capital Management Group LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 16.4% during the third quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 2,860 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $705,000 after buying an additional 403 shares during the last quarter. Vest Financial LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 108.4% in the third quarter. Vest Financial LLC now owns 3,232 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $797,000 after buying an additional 1,681 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its position in Union Pacific by 51.4% during the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 63,565 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $15,668,000 after buying an additional 21,570 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. increased its stake in Union Pacific by 9.1% during the third quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 23,037 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $5,678,000 after acquiring an additional 1,914 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $251.08 on Wednesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $236.93 and a 200 day moving average price of $240.52. Union Pacific Co. has a 1-year low of $218.55 and a 1-year high of $258.66. The firm has a market cap of $151.73 billion, a PE ratio of 22.64, a PEG ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced 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 net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.71 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 12.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.13%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.33%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNP has been the topic of several recent research reports. Barclays lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. Loop Capital cut shares of Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and cut their price target for the stock from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Susquehanna lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Benchmark boosted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $261.40.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $1,875,000.00. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

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.