Myriad Asset Management US LP Purchases Shares of 6,931 Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Myriad Asset Management US LP bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 6,931 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $1,581,000. Union Pacific accounts for about 1.1% of Myriad Asset Management US LP's investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest position.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 918,248 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Union Pacific by 19,878.6% in the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 896,040 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $220,856,000 after buying an additional 891,555 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its position in Union Pacific by 9.3% in 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 buying an additional 625,492 shares during the last quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc boosted its position in Union Pacific by 2,025.4% in the 3rd quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 546,236 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $134,636,000 after purchasing an additional 520,536 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jennison Associates LLC boosted its position in Union Pacific by 170.9% in the 3rd quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 736,246 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $181,470,000 after purchasing an additional 464,477 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the sale, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, 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 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 of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.26% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNP traded down $4.15 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $247.02. The company had a trading volume of 2,488,471 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,721,523. Union Pacific Co. has a twelve month low of $218.55 and a twelve month high of $258.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $149.27 billion, a PE ratio of 22.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.06. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $236.93 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $240.52. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results 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 return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.71 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 12.01 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.17%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on UNP shares. Barclays upped their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Susquehanna cut their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Citigroup raised their target price on Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $261.40.

Union Pacific 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.