D.A. Davidson & CO. Has $34.12 Million Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

D.A. Davidson & CO. raised its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 1.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 149,598 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 2,048 shares during the period. D.A. Davidson & CO.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $34,115,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Compass Financial Services Inc bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at about $30,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Dunhill Financial LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 111.5% during the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 129 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have issued reports on UNP. Benchmark boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Guggenheim boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $261.40.

Insider Activity

In other Union Pacific news, 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 transaction of $1,875,000.00. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares of the company's stock, valued at $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

UNP stock traded down $2.22 during trading on Friday, reaching $245.43. 3,292,544 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,700,197. The company has a market capitalization of $148.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.13, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The company has a 50-day moving average of $237.68 and a two-hundred day moving average of $240.69. Union Pacific Co. has a twelve month low of $218.55 and a twelve month high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly 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 quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.71 earnings per share. As a group, equities 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 announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.18%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

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.