Epoch Investment Partners Inc. Raises Stock Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Epoch Investment Partners Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 8.1% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,152,459 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 86,396 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific comprises approximately 1.3% of Epoch Investment Partners Inc.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th biggest position. Epoch Investment Partners Inc. owned about 0.19% of Union Pacific worth $262,807,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 12.6% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,430,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,282,305,000 after acquiring an additional 1,616,895 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $1,927,377,000. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its position in Union Pacific by 5.0% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,686,387 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,752,804,000 after buying an additional 363,937 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 4.6% during the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 6,439,861 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,468,546,000 after purchasing an additional 285,401 shares during the period. Finally, Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 0.3% during the fourth quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 6,305,684 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,437,948,000 after buying an additional 20,099 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction 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 completion of the transaction, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through 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 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 of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Susquehanna reduced their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. TD Cowen raised their target price on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Finally, Guggenheim increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $257.50.

Union Pacific Trading Down 2.6 %

NYSE:UNP traded down $5.72 on Thursday, reaching $214.06. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,824,538 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,986,338. The firm has a market cap of $128.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $233.10 and a 200 day moving average price of $235.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.79 by ($0.09). Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.50%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 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.