Conning Inc. Decreases Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Conning Inc. lessened its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 5.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 149,650 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 7,808 shares during the quarter. Conning Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $36,886,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Cultivar Capital Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 3,250.0% during the second quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. now owns 134 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. Fairscale Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the second quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 265.7% in the third quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 128 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNP has been the topic of several recent research reports. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $280.00 to $275.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Susquehanna reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $255.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Sanford C. Bernstein reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $277.00 to $272.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets dropped their price target on Union Pacific from $280.00 to $275.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 20th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $259.15.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Union Pacific stock opened at $232.69 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.77. The company has a market cap of $141.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.37, a PEG ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $207.74 and a 1 year high of $258.66. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $244.66 and a 200 day moving average price of $238.38.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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 net margin of 27.33% and a return on equity of 41.79%. The company had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.14 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.51 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.97 earnings per share for the current year.

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.