Essential Planning LLC. Purchases New Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Essential Planning LLC. acquired a new stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 18,242 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $4,321,000.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Roble Belko & Company Inc grew its stake in Union Pacific by 26.8% during the fourth quarter. Roble Belko & Company Inc now owns 213 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $49,000 after buying an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Pflug Koory LLC grew its position in Union Pacific by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Pflug Koory LLC now owns 8,569 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,954,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Baron Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 3.3% in the fourth quarter. Baron Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,409 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $321,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the period. Regatta Capital Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 2.8% during the fourth quarter. Regatta Capital Group LLC now owns 1,672 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $381,000 after acquiring an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Liberty Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Liberty Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,697 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $387,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

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Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP traded down $3.13 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $234.36. The stock had a trading volume of 2,399,170 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,310,389. The firm has a market capitalization of $141.62 billion, a PE ratio of 21.13, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $218.55 and a 12 month high of $258.07. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $241.93 and a 200 day moving average price of $240.85.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.71 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.29%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction on Friday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $1,875,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares of the company's stock, valued at $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total value of $1,636,740.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.26% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have issued reports on UNP shares. TD Cowen boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Loop Capital downgraded Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Guggenheim boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $263.00.

Union Pacific Company 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.