ARS Investment Partners LLC Reduces Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

ARS Investment Partners LLC cut its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 59.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,447 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 2,160 shares during the period. ARS Investment Partners LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $342,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Triangle Securities Wealth Management grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 30.1% during the 3rd quarter. Triangle Securities Wealth Management now owns 2,290 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $541,000 after buying an additional 530 shares during the last quarter. Private Trust Co. NA lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 17,002 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $4,019,000 after acquiring an additional 157 shares during the last quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 3.4% in the third quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC now owns 10,980 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,595,000 after buying an additional 360 shares in the last quarter. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management now owns 1,880 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $444,000 after buying an additional 46 shares during the period. Finally, Optas LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Optas LLC now owns 10,064 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,379,000 after purchasing an additional 179 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE:UNP opened at $235.05 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $139.42 billion, a PE ratio of 19.97, a PEG ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 0.99. Union Pacific Corporation has a 1 year low of $204.66 and a 1 year high of $256.84. The company has a current ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.75. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $227.57 and its 200 day simple moving average is $226.65.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.08 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.99 by $0.09. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.73% and a return on equity of 42.23%. The firm had revenue of $6.24 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.24 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.75 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Investors of record on Friday, December 5th will be paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 5th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 46.90%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on UNP. Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, October 24th. UBS Group set a $253.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, October 3rd. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $263.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, October 24th. Loop Capital raised shares of Union Pacific from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating and lifted their target price for the company from $214.00 to $227.00 in a research note on Tuesday, September 16th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $260.33.

Union Pacific Company Profile

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacific’s core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two‑thirds of the United States.