Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Stock Holdings Increased by First Trust Advisors LP

First Trust Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 318.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,018,219 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 774,828 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP owned about 0.17% of Union Pacific worth $232,195,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of UNP. Compass Financial Services Inc acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. EnRich Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. PrairieView Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 38.8% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 161 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Down 1.9 %

NYSE UNP traded down $4.17 during trading on Thursday, reaching $215.61. 5,178,651 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,567,728. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $233.10 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $235.99. The stock has a market cap of $129.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $204.66 and a 1 year high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.79 by ($0.09). The company had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal 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. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.49%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.33%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently commented on UNP shares. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $270.00 to $248.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Loop Capital cut Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and reduced their target price for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Citigroup upgraded Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and decreased their target price for the company from $260.00 to $244.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Benchmark boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Redburn Atlantic upgraded Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $257.50.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In related news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated 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 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 owned by company insiders.

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.