Circle Wealth Management LLC Raises Stake in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Circle Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 46.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 6,797 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 2,148 shares during the period. Circle Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,607,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Clark Capital Management Group Inc. increased its position in Union Pacific by 119.7% in the 3rd quarter. Clark Capital Management Group Inc. now owns 2,858 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $676,000 after acquiring an additional 1,557 shares during the period. Ausdal Financial Partners Inc. acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $316,000. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. lifted its position in Union Pacific by 44.0% during the 3rd quarter. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. now owns 24,548 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $5,797,000 after acquiring an additional 7,502 shares during the period. California Public Employees Retirement System grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 1,354,434 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $320,148,000 after purchasing an additional 44,204 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Boothbay Fund Management LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter valued at $3,162,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Barclays reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $285.00 target price (up from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Susquehanna reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Monday, January 19th. BMO Capital Markets reissued a “market perform” rating and set a $295.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Finally, Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $270.00 price objective (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $263.77.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $242.22 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 0.91. Union Pacific Corporation has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $268.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $143.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.24, a PEG ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.95. The company’s fifty day moving average is $246.47 and its two-hundred day moving average is $233.81.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.12% and a return on equity of 40.89%. The company had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.15 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.91 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be given a dividend of $1.38 per share. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.12%.

About Union Pacific

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.