Everence Capital Management Inc. Buys 1,200 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Everence Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 7.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 17,521 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,200 shares during the quarter. Everence Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $3,995,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Fiera Capital Corp increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 59.3% during the 2nd quarter. Fiera Capital Corp now owns 13,897 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $3,144,000 after purchasing an additional 5,175 shares during the last quarter. First National Trust Co increased its position in Union Pacific by 2.6% during the second quarter. First National Trust Co now owns 9,729 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,201,000 after buying an additional 244 shares during the last quarter. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 8.8% in the second quarter. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC now owns 997 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $226,000 after buying an additional 81 shares during the period. Simon Quick Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 11.5% in the second quarter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC now owns 2,845 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $644,000 after buying an additional 294 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Foundations Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 12.4% during the 2nd quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,685 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $608,000 after acquiring an additional 297 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.8 %

Shares of UNP stock traded up $1.83 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $230.95. 420,941 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,766,740. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $218.55 and a 12 month high of $258.66. The stock has a market cap of $140.02 billion, a PE ratio of 21.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 1.05. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $234.87 and its 200 day simple moving average is $238.37.

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

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th were given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.32%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 49.22%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on Union Pacific from $280.00 to $275.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 20th. Raymond James raised their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 14th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $266.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $259.80.

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.