Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. Sells 12,264 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. lessened its position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 43.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 16,282 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 12,264 shares during the quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $3,849,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,856,340,000. Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 6,398,715 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,472,217,000 after buying an additional 46,436 shares during the period. Amundi raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 35.6% during the second quarter. Amundi now owns 4,782,577 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,134,236,000 after buying an additional 1,255,231 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 32.8% in the second quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 3,152,042 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $725,222,000 after buying an additional 778,411 shares during the period. Finally, Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 22,618.2% in the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,624,636 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $603,876,000 after buying an additional 2,613,083 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed a “strong-buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $267.00 price target on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $245.00 price objective on Union Pacific in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Citigroup restated a “buy” rating and set a $270.00 target price (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $258.32.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP stock opened at $262.96 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.91. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $263.92. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $235.45 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $228.14. The company has a market capitalization of $156.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.98.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate 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 analyst estimates of $6.15 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.91 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

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

Union Pacific 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.