Capital World Investors Sells 1,133,887 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Capital World Investors decreased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 22.9% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,819,124 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 1,133,887 shares during the quarter. Capital World Investors owned about 0.63% of Union Pacific worth $870,913,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of UNP. Compass Financial Services Inc purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. PrairieView Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 38.8% in the fourth quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Union Pacific stock traded up $2.71 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $219.61. The stock had a trading volume of 3,879,474 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,557,229. The firm has a market capitalization of $131.61 billion, a PE ratio of 19.80, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $233.69 and its 200 day moving average price is $236.10. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $204.66 and a 12 month high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.71 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.33%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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 shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction 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 approximately $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 accessible through the SEC website. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the transaction, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNP has been the subject of several analyst reports. Loop Capital lowered Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and dropped their target price for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Stifel Nicolaus reduced 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 report on Monday, April 14th. Guggenheim increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Robert W. Baird upped their target price 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. Finally, Benchmark lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price 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.