Alberta Investment Management Corp Increases Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Alberta Investment Management Corp grew its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 1,153.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 36,360 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 33,460 shares during the quarter. Alberta Investment Management Corp's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $8,292,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in UNP. Roble Belko & Company Inc grew its stake in Union Pacific by 26.8% during the 4th quarter. Roble Belko & Company Inc now owns 213 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $49,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Pflug Koory LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Pflug Koory LLC now owns 8,569 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,954,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Baron Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 3.3% during the fourth quarter. Baron Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,409 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $321,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Regatta Capital Group LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 2.8% during the fourth quarter. Regatta Capital Group LLC now owns 1,672 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $381,000 after buying an additional 46 shares in the last quarter. Finally, True Link Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 1.2% during the third quarter. True Link Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,016 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $990,000 after buying an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Down 1.0 %

Union Pacific stock traded down $2.50 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $245.16. The stock had a trading volume of 1,881,758 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,657,599. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $237.47 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $240.61. The company has a market capitalization of $148.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.09, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $218.55 and a 12 month high of $258.66.

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, beating the consensus estimate 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 prior year, the business earned $2.71 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.19%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the president now 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 disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Susquehanna cut their price target on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Benchmark boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Loop Capital lowered Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $261.40.

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.