New Century Financial Group LLC Sells 128 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

New Century Financial Group LLC reduced its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 8.1% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,451 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 128 shares during the quarter. New Century Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $357,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of UNP. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at approximately $252,000. Legacy Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 12.7% during the third quarter. Legacy Advisors LLC now owns 1,938 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $395,000 after acquiring an additional 219 shares during the period. KPP Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at about $288,000. Kingdon Capital Management L.L.C. acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the third quarter worth about $11,006,000. Finally, JT Stratford LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. JT Stratford LLC now owns 2,677 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $545,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com cut shares of Union Pacific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 18th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Union Pacific from $198.00 to $210.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, April 26th. Susquehanna lowered their price target on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $250.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, June 25th. Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $271.00 to $273.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, April 26th. Finally, TD Cowen increased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $252.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, April 26th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $258.92.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP opened at $225.57 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $137.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.52, a PEG ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $199.33 and a 12 month high of $258.66. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $232.41 and a 200 day simple moving average of $239.88. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.69 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.50 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.97 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 26.52% and a return on equity of 44.34%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.67 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.22 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 31st were paid a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 31st. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.31%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 49.62%.

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.