SlateStone Wealth LLC Has $2.85 Million Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

SlateStone Wealth LLC grew its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 11.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 12,492 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,308 shares during the period. SlateStone Wealth LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,849,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of UNP. Nicholas Company Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 15.7% during the 4th quarter. Nicholas Company Inc. now owns 30,381 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $6,928,000 after acquiring an additional 4,116 shares during the last quarter. Gallacher Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $227,000. Patten & Patten Inc. TN increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. Patten & Patten Inc. TN now owns 6,742 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,537,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. Greenwich Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. Greenwich Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,159 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $492,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Centurion Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 12.6% during the 4th quarter. Centurion Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,200 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $274,000 after acquiring an additional 134 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Stock Up 1.5 %

NYSE UNP opened at $237.71 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $242.05 and a 200-day moving average of $240.71. The stock has a market capitalization of $143.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $218.55 and a 52 week high of $258.07. 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 (NYSE:UNP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 period in the previous year, the company posted $2.71 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.25%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 48.33%.

Insider Activity

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction on Friday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $1,875,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of Union Pacific 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 sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $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. Insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $295.00 target price on the stock. Guggenheim raised their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Raymond James reaffirmed a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $285.00 target price (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Citigroup raised their target price on Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $263.00.

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.