Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Position Trimmed by Manning & Napier Advisors LLC

Manning & Napier Advisors LLC lessened its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 3.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 372,599 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 12,141 shares during the period. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC owned about 0.06% of Union Pacific worth $84,968,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the second quarter worth about $28,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 265.7% during the 3rd quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 128 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 93 shares during the period. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the third quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, Dunhill Financial LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 111.5% in the 3rd quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 129 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the business's stock in a transaction 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 of the company's stock, valued at $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, 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 sale, the president now 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. Insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE UNP traded up $0.20 during trading on Thursday, reaching $249.75. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,490,478 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,911,404. The business's fifty day moving average price is $235.09 and its 200-day moving average price is $240.01. Union Pacific Co. has a twelve month low of $218.55 and a twelve month high of $258.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.77. The firm has a market cap of $151.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.93, a P/E/G ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 1.06.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 27.33%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.71 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th were issued a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 9th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.15%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 49.22%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on UNP. Barclays increased their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Guggenheim increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $263.30.

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.