Essex Financial Services Inc. Sells 3,345 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Essex Financial Services Inc. lessened its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 21.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 12,266 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 3,345 shares during the period. Essex Financial Services Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $2,899,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Howard Hughes Medical Institute bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter worth $30,000. Total Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the second quarter valued at about $31,000. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at about $31,000. Access Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Sagard Holdings Management Inc. bought a new position in Union Pacific in the second quarter worth about $33,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.7%

Union Pacific stock opened at $264.67 on Thursday. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $238.15 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $229.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 0.91. The company has a market cap of $157.05 billion, a PE ratio of 22.11, a PEG ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.98. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $204.66 and a fifty-two week high of $265.37.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.92 by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.15 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.89% and a net margin of 29.12%.The company’s revenue for the quarter was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.91 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 46.12%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on UNP shares. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $280.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, December 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $267.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 price objective on Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $270.00 price objective (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $258.32.

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.