Nicholas Hoffman & Company LLC. Has $738,000 Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Nicholas Hoffman & Company LLC. raised its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 2.4% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 3,001 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 69 shares during the quarter. Nicholas Hoffman & Company LLC.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $738,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. PFG Investments LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 127.1% during the first quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 9,755 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $2,399,000 after purchasing an additional 5,460 shares during the period. Drive Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.9% in the first quarter. Drive Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,680 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $659,000 after buying an additional 51 shares during the last quarter. Outlook Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 17.6% during the 1st quarter. Outlook Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,616 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $397,000 after acquiring an additional 242 shares during the period. Donaldson Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Donaldson Capital Management LLC now owns 210,016 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $51,649,000 after acquiring an additional 6,126 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James & Associates raised its stake in Union Pacific by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 2,959,365 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $727,797,000 after acquiring an additional 76,684 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 3,750 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $937,500.00. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 56,682 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,170,500. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

NYSE:UNP traded down $3.82 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $237.13. The stock had a trading volume of 1,737,004 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,318,918. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $190.71 and a 12 month high of $258.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $144.68 billion, a PE ratio of 22.63, a P/E/G ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.76. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $243.95 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $235.77.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The railroad operator reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.50 by $0.19. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 44.34% and a net margin of 26.52%. The firm had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.97 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.67 EPS. The company’s revenue was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.08 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 29th were paid a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.19%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 49.62%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. Raymond James reaffirmed a “strong-buy” rating and set a $280.00 price objective (up from $275.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $282.00 to $272.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 26th. StockNews.com upgraded Union Pacific from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Union Pacific in a research report on Monday, April 8th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $250.00 target price on the stock. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $252.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday. Seven investment 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 presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $258.78.

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.