Caprock Group LLC Buys 1,242 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Caprock Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 9.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 14,148 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 1,242 shares during the quarter. Caprock Group LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $3,226,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. World Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 103.1% in the 3rd quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 35,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $8,770,000 after buying an additional 18,060 shares during the period. Peoples Bank KS acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the third quarter worth about $834,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 179,925 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $44,348,000 after purchasing an additional 4,939 shares during the last quarter. Maj Invest Holding A S lifted its position in Union Pacific by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Maj Invest Holding A S now owns 676,098 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $166,645,000 after purchasing an additional 2,202 shares during the period. Finally, Border to Coast Pensions Partnership Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 24.2% in the 4th quarter. Border to Coast Pensions Partnership Ltd now owns 277,267 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $63,185,000 after purchasing an additional 53,946 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other 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 transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $1,875,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now directly 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. Insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Barclays upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. Finally, TD Cowen raised their target price on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $263.30.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $247.85 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.63. The firm has a market cap of $150.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $218.55 and a one year high of $258.66. The stock's 50-day moving average is $235.31 and its 200-day moving average is $240.08.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.71 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 12.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th were paid a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.16%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Union Pacific 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.

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