Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA cut its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 5.4% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 8,649,029 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 495,568 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA owned 1.43% of Union Pacific worth $1,972,325,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Howard Capital Management Group LLC boosted its position in Union Pacific by 16.4% during the third quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 2,860 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $705,000 after purchasing an additional 403 shares in the last quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 940.7% in the third quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 25,529 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $6,297,000 after purchasing an additional 23,076 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 3.1% during the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 590,549 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $145,332,000 after buying an additional 17,778 shares during the last quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 32.3% in the 3rd quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 100,483 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $24,755,000 after buying an additional 24,518 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Investment Management Corp of Ontario grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 49.6% in the 3rd quarter. Investment Management Corp of Ontario now owns 20,216 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $4,983,000 after buying an additional 6,700 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Insiders Place Their Bets
In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $1,875,000.00. Following the transaction, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares of the company's stock, valued at $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, 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 position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.
Union Pacific Stock Performance
Shares of UNP traded down $14.71 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $223.75. The company had a trading volume of 5,754,791 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,443,994. The stock has a market capitalization of $134.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.18, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $218.55 and a 52-week high of $258.07. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $242.74 and a two-hundred day moving average of $239.13. 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 (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data 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 last year, the firm posted $2.71 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.
Union Pacific Announces Dividend
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.40%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 48.33%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Susquehanna lowered their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Benchmark raised their price objective on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. UBS Group dropped their target price on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $295.00 price target for the company. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $261.95.
Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on UNP
About Union Pacific
(
Free Report)
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.
See Also
Before you consider Union Pacific, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Union Pacific wasn't on the list.
While Union Pacific currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
Just getting into the stock market? These 10 simple stocks can help beginning investors build long-term wealth without knowing options, technicals, or other advanced strategies.
Get This Free Report
