Daiwa Securities Group Inc. Grows Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Daiwa Securities Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 6.9% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 82,873 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 5,349 shares during the quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $18,898,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. World Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 103.1% in the third quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 35,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $8,770,000 after buying an additional 18,060 shares in the last quarter. abrdn plc grew its position in Union Pacific by 9.3% during the 4th quarter. abrdn plc now owns 415,874 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $94,588,000 after purchasing an additional 35,414 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 179,925 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $44,348,000 after buying an additional 4,939 shares in the last quarter. Border to Coast Pensions Partnership Ltd lifted its stake in 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 worth $63,185,000 after purchasing an additional 53,946 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pensionfund Sabic increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 61.5% during the 4th quarter. Pensionfund Sabic now owns 10,500 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,394,000 after buying an additional 4,000 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

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Union Pacific Price Performance

NYSE:UNP traded down $0.25 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $237.53. The stock had a trading volume of 793,523 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,302,663. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $241.63 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $240.91. The stock has a market capitalization of $143.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.39, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $218.55 and a one year high of $258.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its 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 period in the prior year, the business posted $2.71 earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders 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 2.26%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 48.33%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 transaction, 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 sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the business'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 value of $1,636,740.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.26% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNP has been the subject of several research reports. Loop Capital downgraded shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Raymond James restated a "strong-buy" rating and set a $285.00 target price (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $295.00 price target on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $263.00.

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.