Kesler Norman & Wride LLC Raises Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Kesler Norman & Wride LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 6.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 26,201 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 1,640 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific accounts for about 1.3% of Kesler Norman & Wride LLC's holdings, making the stock its 26th biggest holding. Kesler Norman & Wride LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $5,975,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. RFG Bristol Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $208,000. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. raised its position in Union Pacific by 2.4% in the 4th quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. now owns 11,362 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $2,591,000 after purchasing an additional 263 shares during the last quarter. Trexquant Investment LP boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 7.6% during the 4th quarter. Trexquant Investment LP now owns 98,108 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $22,373,000 after purchasing an additional 6,922 shares during the period. May Hill Capital LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $233,000. Finally, Lokken Investment Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 3.2% during the fourth quarter. Lokken Investment Group LLC now owns 4,500 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,026,000 after buying an additional 139 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on UNP shares. Benchmark boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Raymond James restated a "strong-buy" rating and issued a $285.00 price target (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $261.95.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value 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 $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the 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 completion of 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 ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Shares of UNP traded down $11.11 on Friday, reaching $212.86. The company's stock had a trading volume of 6,696,080 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,466,644. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $127.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.19, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $212.55 and a 12-month high of $258.07. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $242.01 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $238.75.

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 (EPS) 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 in the prior year, the firm earned $2.71 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.52%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

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.