Capital Research Global Investors Has $2.37 Billion Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Capital Research Global Investors raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 14.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 10,395,364 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 1,298,178 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors owned 1.71% of Union Pacific worth $2,370,559,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

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

Union Pacific Trading Down 2.3 %

Union Pacific stock traded down $5.10 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $214.68. The stock had a trading volume of 3,240,452 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,991,582. The stock has a market capitalization of $128.66 billion, a PE ratio of 19.36, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $204.66 and a 12 month high of $258.07. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $233.10 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $235.99.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 EPS 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%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Robert W. Baird raised 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. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 14th. Guggenheim boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $257.50.

Insider Activity

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal 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 shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $1,875,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company's stock, valued at $16,240,000. This 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 currently owned by company insiders.

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.