BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S Increases Stock Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 158.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 140,366 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 86,009 shares during the quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $32,009,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of UNP. Allred Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Allred Capital Management LLC now owns 8,349 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,904,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Palogic Value Management L.P. increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Palogic Value Management L.P. now owns 2,823 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $644,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares during the period. Roble Belko & Company Inc raised its position in Union Pacific by 26.8% during the 4th quarter. Roble Belko & Company Inc now owns 213 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Pflug Koory LLC grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Pflug Koory LLC now owns 8,569 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,954,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Baron Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 3.3% during the fourth quarter. Baron Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,409 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $321,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 27th. Redburn Atlantic raised Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 target price for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Citigroup upgraded Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and dropped their price target for the company from $260.00 to $244.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. 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 research report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $257.50.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP traded down $5.10 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $214.68. 3,240,452 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,560,270. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $258.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $128.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.36, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $233.10 and a two-hundred day moving average of $235.99.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.79 by ($0.09). Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. On average, equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.50%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.33%.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In other news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the 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 sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,632,388. This 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 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 $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. 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.