Franklin Resources Inc. Acquires 363,937 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Franklin Resources Inc. raised its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 5.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,686,387 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 363,937 shares during the quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. owned 1.27% of Union Pacific worth $1,752,804,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Compass Financial Services Inc acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Dunhill Financial LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 111.5% during the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 129 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. PrairieView Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Finally, Kentucky Trust Co bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $40,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.5 %

Union Pacific stock traded up $1.17 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $238.34. 2,023,200 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,429,422. The stock has a market capitalization of $142.84 billion, a PE ratio of 21.49, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $243.17 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $239.24. 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 Co. has a 52 week low of $218.55 and a 52 week high of $258.07.

Remove Ads

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced 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 previous year, the business earned $2.71 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.25%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have issued reports on UNP. Guggenheim increased their price objective on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Raymond James reissued a "strong-buy" rating and set a $285.00 price target (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on Union Pacific in a report on Friday, March 7th. They set a "buy" rating and a $295.00 price target for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $261.95.

Insider Activity

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 shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $1,875,000.00. Following the transaction, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 directly owns 26,319 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.