Handelsbanken Fonder AB Increases Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Handelsbanken Fonder AB lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 9.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 283,302 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 24,148 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder AB's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $64,604,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. World Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 103.1% during the 3rd quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 35,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $8,770,000 after purchasing an additional 18,060 shares in the last quarter. abrdn plc increased its stake in Union Pacific by 9.3% during the 4th quarter. abrdn plc now owns 415,874 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $94,588,000 after purchasing an additional 35,414 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 179,925 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $44,348,000 after purchasing an additional 4,939 shares in the last quarter. Border to Coast Pensions Partnership Ltd increased its stake in Union Pacific by 24.2% during the 4th quarter. Border to Coast Pensions Partnership Ltd now owns 277,267 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $63,185,000 after purchasing an additional 53,946 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pensionfund Sabic increased its stake in Union Pacific by 61.5% during the 4th quarter. Pensionfund Sabic now owns 10,500 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,394,000 after purchasing an additional 4,000 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated 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 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 ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 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 sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have commented on UNP. Benchmark boosted 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. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $263.00 to $252.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Finally, Susquehanna reduced their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $261.40.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP traded down $2.22 during trading on Friday, hitting $245.43. 3,292,544 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,700,197. The firm has a market cap of $148.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The stock's fifty day moving average is $237.47 and its 200 day moving average is $240.61. 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 one year low of $218.55 and a one year high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 last year, the company earned $2.71 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.33%.

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.