LPL Financial LLC Grows Stock Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

LPL Financial LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 4.8% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 1,121,998 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 51,289 shares during the quarter. LPL Financial LLC owned 0.19% of Union Pacific worth $255,961,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Howard Capital Management Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 16.4% during the 3rd quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 2,860 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $705,000 after buying an additional 403 shares in the last quarter. Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $500,000. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 5.8% in the third quarter. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC now owns 2,792 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $672,000 after purchasing an additional 153 shares during the last quarter. Certified Advisory Corp raised its stake in Union Pacific by 3.0% during the third quarter. Certified Advisory Corp now owns 1,758 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $433,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Baltimore Washington Financial Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Union Pacific during the third quarter valued at $525,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently issued reports on UNP shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They set a "buy" rating and a $295.00 target price on the stock. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. TD Cowen raised their price target on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $262.76.

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Union Pacific Stock Down 1.7 %

Shares of UNP stock traded down $3.91 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $232.06. The stock had a trading volume of 1,917,148 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,425,714. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $218.55 and a 12-month high of $258.07. 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 firm's 50-day moving average is $243.11 and its two-hundred day moving average is $239.56. The firm has a market capitalization of $140.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05.

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 for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 earned $2.71 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced 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. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.31%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the firm'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 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 Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred 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 owns 64,960 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

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.