Jefferies Financial Group Inc. Sells 226,844 Shares of Union Pacific Corporation $UNP

Key Points

• Jefferies Financial Group sharply cut its Union Pacific stake by 97.8% in the fourth quarter, selling 226,844 shares and leaving it with 5,156 shares worth about $1.19 million.
• Several Union Pacific insiders sold shares recently, including CFO Jennifer L. Hamann and EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker; insider selling totaled 31,386 shares worth about $8.46 million over the last 90 days.
• Union Pacific reported better-than-expected quarterly results with EPS of $2.93 versus the $2.86 estimate and revenue of $6.22 billion, while the company also announced a quarterly dividend of $1.38 per share.

Jefferies Financial Group Inc. reduced its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 97.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 5,156 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 226,844 shares during the quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,193,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Stephens Consulting LLC grew its stake in Union Pacific by 48.4% in the fourth quarter. Stephens Consulting LLC now owns 135 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Macroview Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. Macroview Investment Management LLC now owns 1,349 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $312,000 after buying an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. Prestige Wealth Management Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Prestige Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 3,186 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $753,000 after buying an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,988 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,154,000 after buying an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Keebeck Wealth Management boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Keebeck Wealth Management now owns 2,691 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $636,000 after buying an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Union Pacific news, CFO Jennifer L. Hamann sold 2,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.70, for a total value of $549,400.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 114,642 shares in the company, valued at approximately $31,492,157.40. This represents a 1.71% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Kenyatta G. Rocker sold 27,387 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $271.76, for a total value of $7,442,691.12. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 61,102 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $16,605,079.52. The trade was a 30.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 31,386 shares of company stock worth $8,461,716. Corporate insiders own 0.22% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP opened at $266.59 on Friday. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $210.84 and a 12-month high of $279.70. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53. The firm has a market capitalization of $158.28 billion, a PE ratio of 21.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.99. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $256.04 and a two-hundred day moving average of $245.44.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.86 by $0.07. Union Pacific had a net margin of 29.20% and a return on equity of 39.58%. The company had revenue of $6.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.12 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.70 EPS. Union Pacific's revenue for the quarter was up 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Corporation will post 12.53 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 29th will be given a $1.38 dividend. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 29th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 45.47%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on UNP. BMO Capital Markets restated a "market perform" rating and issued a $285.00 price target (up from $278.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $267.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, April 24th. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $289.00 to $293.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 31st. TD Cowen raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $256.00 to $282.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, April 24th. Finally, Citigroup restated a "buy" rating and issued a $307.00 price target (up from $285.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, April 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $280.47.

Union Pacific Profile

Union Pacific Corporation NYSE: UNP is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacific's core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two‑thirds of the United States.

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