Martingale Asset Management L P Sells 1,247 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Martingale Asset Management L P lowered its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 3.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 32,491 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 1,247 shares during the quarter. Martingale Asset Management L P's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $7,409,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of UNP. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth about $1,927,377,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at about $1,035,905,000. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 12.6% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,430,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $3,282,305,000 after purchasing an additional 1,616,895 shares during the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 74.7% in the fourth quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 2,146,990 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $489,600,000 after purchasing an additional 918,248 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 9.3% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,322,450 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,795,993,000 after purchasing an additional 625,492 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Union Pacific Trading Down 0.2 %

UNP traded down $0.44 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $221.83. 851,052 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,515,946. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $204.66 and a 52 week high of $258.07. The stock has a market capitalization of $132.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $237.03 and a two-hundred day moving average of $237.08.

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 net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.71 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.33%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently weighed in on UNP. Guggenheim increased their price target on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Loop Capital lowered Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Susquehanna decreased their price target on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Benchmark upped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. 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 given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $257.43.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the transaction, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. This trade represents 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 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.