Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. Increases Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. lifted its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 18.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 822,027 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 126,720 shares during the quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. owned approximately 0.14% of Union Pacific worth $187,455,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Sompo Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its stake in Union Pacific by 4.7% in the fourth quarter. Sompo Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 25,822 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $5,888,000 after purchasing an additional 1,169 shares during the period. Tenere Capital LLC grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 53.6% in the fourth quarter. Tenere Capital LLC now owns 59,029 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $13,461,000 after purchasing an additional 20,600 shares during the last quarter. Symmetry Investments LP lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 1,610.7% during the 4th quarter. Symmetry Investments LP now owns 157,438 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $35,902,000 after buying an additional 148,235 shares in the last quarter. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in Union Pacific by 8.1% in the 4th quarter. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. now owns 38,439 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $8,766,000 after buying an additional 2,879 shares during the period. Finally, MGO One Seven LLC grew its stake in Union Pacific by 34.8% in the 4th quarter. MGO One Seven LLC now owns 13,844 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $3,157,000 after acquiring an additional 3,575 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.4 %

UNP stock opened at $216.91 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07. The stock has a market capitalization of $130.00 billion, a PE ratio of 19.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $233.69 and a 200 day moving average of $236.10.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 EPS 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 quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.71 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.47%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently issued reports on UNP shares. Guggenheim boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Susquehanna dropped their price target on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Redburn Atlantic upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 target price on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Finally, Raymond James reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set a "strong-buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, fourteen 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 an average target price of $257.50.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In related news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, January 24th. The shares were 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 in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific 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.

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