Jones Financial Companies Lllp Grows Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 42.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 124,421 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 36,973 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $28,373,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of UNP. Modera Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 7.5% during the fourth quarter. Modera Wealth Management LLC now owns 12,347 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,816,000 after acquiring an additional 860 shares in the last quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Union Pacific by 223.7% in the 4th quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 1,392 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $318,000 after buying an additional 962 shares during the last quarter. Asahi Life Asset Management CO. LTD. bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $291,000. Bailard Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. Bailard Inc. now owns 14,458 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $3,297,000 after buying an additional 147 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Norden Group LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 5.5% in the 4th quarter. Norden Group LLC now owns 1,543 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $352,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

NYSE:UNP traded up $2.09 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $243.61. 3,051,741 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,301,658. The company has a market cap of $147.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $240.06 and a 200 day moving average price of $240.95. Union Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $218.55 and a 1 year high of $258.07.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $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 business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.20%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on 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 directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, 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 owns 26,319 shares in the company, 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. 0.28% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently issued reports on UNP shares. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Benchmark boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Guggenheim raised their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. TD Cowen lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $261.40.

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.