Rockland Trust Co. Buys 7,277 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Rockland Trust Co. boosted its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 6.3% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 122,162 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 7,277 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific accounts for approximately 1.4% of Rockland Trust Co.’s portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest position. Rockland Trust Co.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $27,858,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Chesapeake Wealth Management boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 0.5% during the second quarter. Chesapeake Wealth Management now owns 8,202 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,856,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the period. Traveka Wealth LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 3.4% in the third quarter. Traveka Wealth LLC now owns 1,357 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $335,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Red Mountain Financial LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.0% in the third quarter. Red Mountain Financial LLC now owns 2,276 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $561,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. True Link Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 1.2% during the third quarter. True Link Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,016 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $990,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Alpha Financial Partners LLC grew its stake in Union Pacific by 3.6% in the 2nd quarter. Alpha Financial Partners LLC now owns 1,453 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $329,000 after buying an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on UNP. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. TD Cowen dropped their price target on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $252.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Barclays upped 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. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $260.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $259.80.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Union Pacific stock opened at $229.25 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $234.49 and a 200-day moving average of $238.87. The firm has a market cap of $138.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.05, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 1.06. 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 1-year low of $218.55 and a 1-year high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.78 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.14 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 27.33%. Union Pacific’s quarterly revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.51 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.94 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th were issued a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.34%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.22%.

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.