Callahan Advisors LLC Takes Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Callahan Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 4,763 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $1,086,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Compass Financial Services Inc acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at $30,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Dunhill Financial LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 111.5% in the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 129 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently commented on UNP. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Susquehanna lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Raymond James reiterated a "strong-buy" rating and issued a $285.00 price objective (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $261.40.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $1,875,000.00. Following the transaction, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. The trade was 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.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE:UNP traded down $2.22 during trading on Friday, hitting $245.43. 3,292,544 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,700,197. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $218.55 and a 52 week high of $258.66. 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 market cap of $148.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $237.68 and a 200-day moving average price of $240.69.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) 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 last year, the firm posted $2.71 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.33%.

Union Pacific Company 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.