Fmr LLC Sells 103,832 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

FMR LLC decreased its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 2.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,916,275 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 103,832 shares during the period. FMR LLC owned approximately 0.81% of Union Pacific worth $1,121,107,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $1,927,377,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,035,905,000. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in 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 purchasing an additional 1,616,895 shares during the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. increased its position in Union Pacific by 74.7% during the fourth quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 2,146,990 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $489,600,000 after buying an additional 918,248 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. raised 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 buying an additional 625,492 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In related news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the company'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 transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the 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 completion of the transaction, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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Union Pacific Price Performance

UNP traded down $0.89 on Friday, hitting $218.43. 2,964,945 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,519,559. The firm has a market capitalization of $130.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.70, a PEG 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. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $204.66 and a 12 month high of $258.07. The business has a 50-day moving average of $237.48 and a two-hundred day moving average of $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, topping 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 quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.71 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.45%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 48.33%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently weighed in on UNP. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Susquehanna dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Benchmark upped their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $258.48.

Union Pacific 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.