71 West Capital Partners Buys Shares of 2,146 Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

71 West Capital Partners purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 2,146 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $496,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Magellan Asset Management Ltd acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter valued at about $69,343,000. North Dakota State Investment Board bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $4,746,000. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 1,581.2% during the third quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. now owns 232,000 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $54,838,000 after purchasing an additional 218,200 shares during the last quarter. First National Bank of Omaha boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 35.8% during the fourth quarter. First National Bank of Omaha now owns 54,635 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $12,665,000 after buying an additional 14,399 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Avanza Fonder AB acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,449,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $267.54 on Wednesday. The company’s fifty day moving average is $263.15 and its two-hundred day moving average is $249.38. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $210.84 and a 12-month high of $279.70. The company has a market cap of $158.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.97.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.86 by $0.07. Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.20% and a return on equity of 39.58%. The company had revenue of $6.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.12 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.70 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 3.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 29th will be paid a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 29th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 45.47%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 2,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.70, for a total transaction of $549,400.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 114,642 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $31,492,157.40. The trade was a 1.71% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 27,387 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $271.76, for a total transaction of $7,442,691.12. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 61,102 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,605,079.52. This trade represents a 30.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 34,377 shares of company stock valued at $9,251,221 in the last three months. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. Evercore reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $277.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Union Pacific from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 21st. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $289.00 target price (up from $273.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and set a $285.00 target price (up from $278.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. Finally, TD Cowen increased their price target on Union Pacific from $256.00 to $282.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, April 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have issued a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $282.21.

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.