Generali Asset Management SPA SGR Buys Shares of 37,307 Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Generali Asset Management SPA SGR bought a new position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 37,307 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $8,507,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Compass Financial Services Inc purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. Dunhill Financial LLC lifted its position in Union Pacific by 111.5% during the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 129 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 68 shares during the period. PrairieView Partners LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, Kentucky Trust Co purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at $40,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have commented on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They set a "buy" rating and a $295.00 price objective for the company. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. TD Cowen raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Benchmark lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $263.00.

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Union Pacific Price Performance

Union Pacific stock traded down $1.00 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $233.79. 4,167,677 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,302,073. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $242.68 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $240.16. The company has a market capitalization of $141.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.08, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $218.55 and a 12-month high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.71 EPS. Analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred 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 transaction, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred 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 transaction, 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 ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

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.