Madison Investment Advisors LLC Takes Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Madison Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 96,522 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $22,011,000.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Compass Financial Services Inc bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. Dunhill Financial LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 111.5% during the 3rd 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. Finally, PrairieView Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. 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 report on Friday, January 24th. Raymond James reissued a "strong-buy" rating and set a $285.00 price objective (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $295.00 price target on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $263.00.

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Union Pacific Trading Down 0.1 %

NYSE UNP opened at $237.61 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Union Pacific Co. has a twelve month low of $218.55 and a twelve month high of $258.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $143.59 billion, a PE ratio of 21.43, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The stock's 50 day moving average is $241.82 and its 200 day moving average is $240.89.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 EPS. Research analysts forecast 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 $1.34 dividend. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.33%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $1,875,000.00. Following the transaction, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $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. Corporate insiders own 0.26% 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.

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