KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS Takes $46.79 Million Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 205,164 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $46,786,000.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. AXQ Capital LP purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth about $407,000. Umpqua Bank increased its position in Union Pacific by 5.0% during the fourth quarter. Umpqua Bank now owns 3,575 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $820,000 after purchasing an additional 170 shares during the last quarter. Intellus Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $10,569,000. Sei Investments Co. boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 8.3% in the 4th quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 262,987 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $59,971,000 after purchasing an additional 20,147 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Plancorp LLC grew its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Plancorp LLC now owns 13,408 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,058,000 after buying an additional 262 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently weighed in on UNP. Raymond James reaffirmed a "strong-buy" rating and issued a $285.00 target price (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Guggenheim raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Benchmark boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $263.00.

Remove Ads

Union Pacific Stock Up 1.0 %

NYSE UNP traded up $2.25 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $238.04. 1,709,846 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,301,154. The company has a 50 day moving average of $243.12 and a two-hundred day moving average of $239.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $143.84 billion, a PE ratio of 21.46, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $218.55 and a 12 month high of $258.07. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76.

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

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.25%. 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

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total value of $1,636,740.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 sale, the president now owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.