FIL Ltd Sells 161,194 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

FIL Ltd lessened its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 18.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 696,199 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 161,194 shares during the period. FIL Ltd owned 0.11% of Union Pacific worth $158,761,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,927,377,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at $1,035,905,000. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 12.6% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,430,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $3,282,305,000 after buying an additional 1,616,895 shares in the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its stake in Union Pacific by 74.7% in the 4th quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 2,146,990 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $489,600,000 after acquiring an additional 918,248 shares during the period. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. increased its stake in Union Pacific by 9.3% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,322,450 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,795,993,000 after purchasing an additional 625,492 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $1,875,000.00. Following the transaction, the president now 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 is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the 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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have weighed in on UNP. TD Cowen increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Monday. Finally, Guggenheim lifted their price target on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $257.43.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP stock traded up $2.68 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $221.27. 967,010 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,513,969. The company has a market cap of $132.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.95, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. 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 Co. has a 12 month low of $204.66 and a 12 month high of $258.07. The company's 50 day moving average price is $237.48 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $237.24.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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 net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.71 earnings per share. On average, sell-side 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 was paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th were given 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 2.42%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.