Federated Hermes Inc. Lowers Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Federated Hermes Inc. lessened its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 14.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 109,176 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 18,261 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $24,897,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Compass Financial Services Inc bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. PrairieView Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Kentucky Trust Co acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $40,000. Finally, R Squared Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $43,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP traded up $3.11 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $221.70. 824,297 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,905,593. The firm has a market capitalization of $132.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $237.48 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $237.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07.

Remove Ads

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

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were given a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.42%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have weighed in on UNP. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday. Susquehanna cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Citigroup raised shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and decreased their price target for the company from $260.00 to $244.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Guggenheim upped their price target on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $257.43.

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.