Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Purchases 33,399 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 0.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 4,173,412 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 33,399 shares during the period. Union Pacific comprises 0.9% of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board's holdings, making the stock its 21st largest holding. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board owned about 0.69% of Union Pacific worth $951,705,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

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

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Union Pacific stock traded up $1.44 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $217.49. The company's stock had a trading volume of 830,994 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,942,767. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $234.38 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $236.23. 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 $130.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.61, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 firm earned $2.71 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.46%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the company'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 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 represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available 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 transaction of $1,875,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $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.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $295.00 price target on the stock. Raymond James cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set a "strong-buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 27th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective 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. Finally, Citigroup upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $260.00 to $244.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $257.50.

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.