James Hambro & Partners LLP Buys 17,996 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

James Hambro & Partners LLP grew its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 5.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 375,924 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 17,996 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific accounts for about 3.4% of James Hambro & Partners LLP’s holdings, making the stock its 18th largest position. James Hambro & Partners LLP owned 0.06% of Union Pacific worth $85,776,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in Union Pacific by 181.8% in the fourth quarter. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 403 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $92,000 after acquiring an additional 260 shares during the period. Parkside Investments LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 3.5% during the fourth quarter. Parkside Investments LLC now owns 48,931 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $11,158,000 after purchasing an additional 1,666 shares in the last quarter. Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 4.2% during the 4th quarter. Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC now owns 2,801 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $639,000 after buying an additional 114 shares in the last quarter. KBC Group NV boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 6.5% in the fourth quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 64,294 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $14,661,000 after acquiring an additional 3,906 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $20,683,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $248.94 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $234.05 and a 200 day moving average of $239.63. The firm has a market capitalization of $150.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $218.55 and a 12-month high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.33% and a return on equity of 41.79%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.71 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.96 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th were paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.15%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 49.22%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $277.00 to $272.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday. TD Cowen lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Union Pacific from $263.00 to $252.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $263.30.

Union Pacific 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.