Venture Visionary Partners LLC Grows Stake in Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Venture Visionary Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) by 25.7% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 15,837 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 3,234 shares during the quarter. Venture Visionary Partners LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $3,756,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Magellan Asset Management Ltd acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the third quarter valued at $69,343,000. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in Union Pacific by 1,581.2% during the third quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. now owns 232,000 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $54,838,000 after purchasing an additional 218,200 shares during the period. North Dakota State Investment Board acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at $4,746,000. Avanza Fonder AB acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at $1,449,000. Finally, First National Bank of Omaha lifted its position in Union Pacific by 35.8% during the fourth quarter. First National Bank of Omaha now owns 54,635 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $12,665,000 after purchasing an additional 14,399 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 27,387 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $271.76, for a total value of $7,442,691.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 61,102 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,605,079.52. This represents a 30.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 2,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.70, for a total transaction of $549,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 114,642 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $31,492,157.40. This trade represents a 1.71% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 34,377 shares of company stock worth $9,251,221. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Trading Down 1.9%

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $267.54 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $262.69 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $249.13. The company has a market cap of $158.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.97. Union Pacific Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $210.84 and a fifty-two week high of $279.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.92.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.86 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $6.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.12 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.20% and a return on equity of 39.58%. The company’s revenue was up 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.70 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 29th will be given a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 29th. This represents a $5.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 45.47%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the subject of a number of research reports. Citigroup restated a “buy” rating and set a $307.00 target price (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Susquehanna restated a “positive” rating and set a $305.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, June 5th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and set a $289.00 target price (up from $273.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Raymond James Financial set a $310.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Finally, UBS Group restated a “neutral” rating and set a $274.00 target price (up from $253.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, April 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $282.21.

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.