Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS Sells 4,823 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS cut its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 0.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 860,661 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 4,823 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific accounts for 1.2% of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS's portfolio, making the stock its 12th largest position. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS owned about 0.14% of Union Pacific worth $196,265,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Berkeley Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $220,000. Wilkins Investment Counsel Inc. lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Wilkins Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 21,443 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $4,890,000 after acquiring an additional 525 shares during the last quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 38.3% during the 4th quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 372,696 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $84,990,000 after acquiring an additional 103,267 shares in the last quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 1.7% during the fourth quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. now owns 427,312 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $97,444,000 after purchasing an additional 7,061 shares during the period. Finally, First Financial Bankshares Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.2% during the fourth quarter. First Financial Bankshares Inc now owns 85,330 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $19,459,000 after purchasing an additional 1,012 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Benchmark increased 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. Loop Capital lowered shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and cut their price target for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $295.00 price objective for the company. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective 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, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $263.00.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In other news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of Union Pacific 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 transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the firm'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 sale, 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. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.6 %

NYSE UNP traded up $1.32 during trading on Monday, hitting $235.20. 3,291,145 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,308,527. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $218.55 and a 12 month high of $258.07. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $242.85 and a 200 day simple moving average of $239.83. The company has a market capitalization of $142.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.21, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. 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 (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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 period in the prior year, the business posted $2.71 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.28%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

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.