Alliancebernstein L.P. Decreases Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Alliancebernstein L.P. decreased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 7.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,050,327 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 85,628 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. owned about 0.17% of Union Pacific worth $239,517,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Meeder Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 223.2% during the fourth quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 307 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $70,000 after purchasing an additional 212 shares in the last quarter. D L Carlson Investment Group Inc. increased its stake in Union Pacific by 22.6% during the 4th quarter. D L Carlson Investment Group Inc. now owns 2,007 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $458,000 after buying an additional 370 shares in the last quarter. Partners in Financial Planning purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $274,000. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 17.3% during the fourth quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 127,758 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $29,134,000 after acquiring an additional 18,886 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Clearbridge Investments LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 9.3% in the fourth quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 4,649,767 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,060,333,000 after acquiring an additional 397,185 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

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Insider Activity

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company's 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 in the company, valued at $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total value 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. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently commented on UNP. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Guggenheim raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Loop Capital downgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and cut their price objective for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $261.95.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.5 %

Union Pacific stock traded up $1.17 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $238.34. The company had a trading volume of 2,023,200 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,429,422. The stock has a market cap of $142.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Union Pacific Co. has a 1-year low of $218.55 and a 1-year high of $258.07. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $243.22 and its 200-day simple moving average is $239.23.

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, 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 firm earned $2.71 earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were given a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.25%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

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.