Isthmus Partners LLC Acquires Shares of 3,867 Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Isthmus Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 3,867 shares of the railroad operator’s stock, valued at approximately $953,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Cultivar Capital Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at about $27,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 3,250.0% in the second quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. now owns 134 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 130 shares in the last quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the third quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, Fairscale Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the second quarter worth about $31,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $244.87 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.63. Union Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $218.55 and a 1 year high of $258.66. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $240.12 and a 200 day simple moving average of $238.55. The firm has a market cap of $148.45 billion, a PE ratio of 22.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.78 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 27.33%. The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.14 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.51 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.94 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 9th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.19%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 49.22%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on UNP shares. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $280.00 to $275.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 20th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $260.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $255.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Bank of America reduced their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $273.00 to $270.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, September 24th. Finally, Evercore ISI downgraded shares of Union Pacific from an “outperform” rating to an “inline” rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $254.00 to $247.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $259.80.

Union Pacific Company Profile

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.