Burling Wealth Partners LLC Makes New $4.24 Million Investment in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Burling Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 18,606 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $4,243,000.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Howard Capital Management Group LLC lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 16.4% in the third quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 2,860 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $705,000 after acquiring an additional 403 shares during the last quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 43,071 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $10,616,000 after purchasing an additional 276 shares during the last quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in Union Pacific by 103.1% during the 3rd quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 35,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $8,770,000 after purchasing an additional 18,060 shares during the period. Arvest Bank Trust Division bought a new position in Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter worth $16,680,000. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB increased its position in Union Pacific by 124.1% in the third quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 52,963 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $13,054,000 after buying an additional 29,330 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Raymond James reiterated a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday. TD Cowen raised their target price on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Barclays reduced their price target on Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $258.00.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP traded down $2.10 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $213.35. 3,454,850 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,565,721. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $231.67 and a 200-day simple moving average of $235.66. The company has a market capitalization of $127.86 billion, a PE ratio of 19.24, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $204.66 and a one year high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.79 by ($0.09). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.11 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts predict 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. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.51%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is 48.29%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, January 27th. The stock was 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 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 filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

About Union Pacific

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.