APG Asset Management N.V. Boosts Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

APG Asset Management N.V. grew its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 645.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 335,600 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 290,568 shares during the period. APG Asset Management N.V. owned approximately 0.06% of Union Pacific worth $73,907,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,927,377,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,035,905,000. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 12.6% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,430,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,282,305,000 after purchasing an additional 1,616,895 shares during the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 74.7% during the 4th quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 2,146,990 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $489,600,000 after buying an additional 918,248 shares during the period. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its position in Union Pacific by 9.3% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,322,450 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,795,993,000 after buying an additional 625,492 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Union Pacific Stock Down 0.4 %

NYSE:UNP traded down $0.89 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $218.43. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,964,945 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,519,860. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77. The company has a market capitalization of $130.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $237.48 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $237.28. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $204.66 and a 12 month high of $258.07.

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 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 quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.71 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were given a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.45%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 48.33%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNP has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Raymond James dropped their target price on Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set a "strong-buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Loop Capital cut Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Susquehanna reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. One investment 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 stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $258.48.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Union Pacific 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 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 approximately $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the business'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 sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.