Cascades Capital Asset Management LLC Increases Stock Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Cascades Capital Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 6.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 1,518 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the quarter. Cascades Capital Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $346,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Compass Financial Services Inc acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Dunhill Financial LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 111.5% in the 3rd quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 129 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares during the period. PrairieView Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Kentucky Trust Co acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $40,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Trading Down 5.0 %

Shares of UNP opened at $212.86 on Friday. Union Pacific Co. has a 1-year low of $212.55 and a 1-year high of $258.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $242.01 and a 200-day simple moving average of $238.85. The stock has a market cap of $127.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.71 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.52%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 48.33%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on UNP. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. UBS Group lowered their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $295.00 price objective on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $261.95.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total value of $1,636,740.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $1,875,000.00. Following the transaction, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About Union Pacific

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.