Union Pacific Corporation $UNP Shares Bought by Deprince Race & Zollo Inc.

Key Points

• Deprince Race & Zollo Inc. raised its stake in Union Pacific by 9.4%, buying 20,559 shares to hold 239,114 shares worth about $55.31 million, roughly 1.1% of its portfolio and its 19th-largest holding.
• Analysts give UNP an average rating of "Moderate Buy" with an average target price of $265.86, while several firms have recently lifted targets (e.g., Barclays $285, Evercore $262).
• Union Pacific pays a quarterly dividend of $1.38 (annualized $5.52, yield ~2.2%, payout ratio 46.1%) and recently missed Q EPS estimates ($2.86 vs. $2.92) on $6.09 billion revenue.

Deprince Race & Zollo Inc. raised its position in Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 9.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 239,114 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 20,559 shares during the period. Union Pacific comprises approximately 1.1% of Deprince Race & Zollo Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. Deprince Race & Zollo Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $55,312,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Caitlin John LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at $27,000. Saranac Partners Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at $27,000. Total Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at $31,000. Stephens Consulting LLC lifted its position in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Beacon Financial Strategies CORP purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 1,999 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.93, for a total transaction of $469,625.07. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the topic of several recent research reports. Barclays restated an "overweight" rating and issued a $285.00 price objective (up from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. BMO Capital Markets restated a "market perform" rating and issued a $295.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. Raymond James Financial restated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. TD Cowen reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $257.00 to $255.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Evercore upgraded Union Pacific from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $262.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 19th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $265.86.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE UNP opened at $250.81 on Monday. The business's 50-day moving average price is $251.43 and its 200 day moving average price is $236.96. Union Pacific Corporation has a twelve month low of $206.63 and a twelve month high of $268.14. The company has a market capitalization of $148.83 billion, a PE ratio of 20.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.05 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The railroad operator reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.92 by ($0.06). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 40.89% and a net margin of 29.12%.The business had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.15 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.91 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 27th were given a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 27th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is 46.12%.

About Union Pacific

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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