Howard Capital Management Group LLC Lowers Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Howard Capital Management Group LLC lowered its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 1.7% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,810 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 50 shares during the period. Howard Capital Management Group LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $641,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of UNP. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter valued at $28,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the third quarter worth about $30,000. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 265.7% during the third quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 128 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares in the last quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 111.5% in the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 129 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the period. Finally, Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Up 1.1 %

UNP opened at $236.73 on Wednesday. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $233.67 and its 200 day simple moving average is $239.10. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $218.55 and a 52 week high of $258.66. The firm has a market cap of $143.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.74, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.06. 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 (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.78 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.14 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 27.33%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.51 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared 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 2.26%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.22%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently commented on UNP shares. Sanford C. Bernstein reduced their price target on Union Pacific from $277.00 to $272.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $263.00 to $252.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. StockNews.com cut shares of Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 1st. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, TD Cowen lowered their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $252.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $259.35.

About Union Pacific

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.