Qtron Investments LLC Raises Stock Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Qtron Investments LLC grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 29.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,108 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 1,386 shares during the quarter. Qtron Investments LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,393,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $1,927,377,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth about $1,035,905,000. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 12.6% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,430,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $3,282,305,000 after buying an additional 1,616,895 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. boosted its stake 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 buying an additional 918,248 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. grew its stake in Union Pacific by 9.3% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,322,450 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,795,993,000 after acquiring an additional 625,492 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently commented on UNP. Guggenheim upped their price target on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. TD Cowen raised their price target on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Citigroup raised shares of Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $260.00 to $244.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $257.43.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on 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 completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.19% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Union Pacific Price Performance

UNP traded down $2.27 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $220.01. 2,806,104 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,524,288. The stock has a market capitalization of $131.85 billion, a PE ratio of 19.84, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The business's 50-day moving average price is $237.03 and its 200 day moving average price is $237.08. Union Pacific Co. has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $258.07. 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 (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 last year, the business posted $2.71 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS 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 $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 dividend yield of 2.44%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

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.