CCLA Investment Management Boosts Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

CCLA Investment Management grew its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 15.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 401,342 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 54,706 shares during the period. CCLA Investment Management owned about 0.07% of Union Pacific worth $91,566,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Community Trust & Investment Co. increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Community Trust & Investment Co. now owns 16,250 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $3,706,000 after purchasing an additional 469 shares during the period. R.H. Investment Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth about $3,813,000. Pines Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $588,000. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 5.3% in the fourth quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,306 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $526,000 after acquiring an additional 117 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wynn Capital LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 7.2% in the fourth quarter. Wynn Capital LLC now owns 966 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $220,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNP has been the subject of several analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. TD Cowen lowered their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $252.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on Union Pacific from $280.00 to $275.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 20th. StockNews.com cut Union Pacific from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. Finally, Susquehanna decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $259.80.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP traded up $1.62 on Wednesday, hitting $231.00. 1,892,336 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,387,871. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $218.55 and a 12-month high of $258.66. The company has a 50 day moving average of $234.49 and a 200-day moving average of $238.87. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $140.05 billion, a PE ratio of 21.21, a PEG ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.75 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.78 by ($0.03). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 27.33%. The company had revenue of $6.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.14 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.51 EPS. Union Pacific's revenue for the quarter was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.94 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th were issued a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.32%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 9th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 49.22%.

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.