Hilltop Holdings Inc. Buys 31,435 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Hilltop Holdings Inc. grew its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 345.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 40,523 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 31,435 shares during the period. Union Pacific comprises about 0.6% of Hilltop Holdings Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 21st largest holding. Hilltop Holdings Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $9,988,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Fairhaven Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.7% during the second quarter. Fairhaven Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,581 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $584,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the period. Chesapeake Wealth Management lifted its position in Union Pacific by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Chesapeake Wealth Management now owns 8,202 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,856,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares during the period. Azzad Asset Management Inc. ADV grew its stake in Union Pacific by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Azzad Asset Management Inc. ADV now owns 8,384 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,897,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Montecito Bank & Trust increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 0.4% in the second quarter. Montecito Bank & Trust now owns 11,894 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,691,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. Finally, Traveka Wealth LLC raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 3.4% in the third quarter. Traveka Wealth LLC now owns 1,357 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $335,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.2 %

UNP stock opened at $244.66 on Monday. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $218.55 and a 52 week high of $258.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $240.12 and a 200-day simple moving average of $238.45. The stock has a market capitalization of $148.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.47, a P/E/G ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.78 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 27.33%. The firm had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.14 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.51 earnings per share. Union Pacific’s quarterly revenue was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 30th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.19%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 49.22%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on UNP shares. Bank of America cut their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $273.00 to $270.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 24th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $262.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Raymond James upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 14th. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $266.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Evercore ISI downgraded Union Pacific from an “outperform” rating to an “inline” rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $254.00 to $247.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. 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. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $259.80.

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.