Kesler Norman & Wride LLC Has $5.98 Million Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Kesler Norman & Wride LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 6.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 26,201 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 1,640 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific comprises about 1.3% of Kesler Norman & Wride LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 26th biggest holding. Kesler Norman & Wride LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $5,975,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the subject of several analyst reports. Robert W. Baird upped their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. TD Cowen upped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup lifted their target price 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. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased 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 note on Thursday, March 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $261.95.

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Union Pacific Stock Down 6.2 %

NYSE UNP traded down $14.71 during trading on Thursday, reaching $223.75. The company's stock had a trading volume of 5,754,791 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,443,994. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The stock has a market capitalization of $134.10 billion, a PE ratio of 20.18, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Co. has a 1-year low of $218.55 and a 1-year high of $258.07. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $242.74 and a 200-day moving average price of $239.13.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) 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 period last year, the firm posted $2.71 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.40%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.33%.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on 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 transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, 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 of the company's stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by 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.