Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Sold by Sandy Spring Bank

Sandy Spring Bank trimmed its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 6.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 20,922 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 1,515 shares during the period. Sandy Spring Bank's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $4,771,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Compass Financial Services Inc acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at about $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Dunhill Financial LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 111.5% in the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 129 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. PrairieView Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Kentucky Trust Co purchased a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at $40,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, 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 transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $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 can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the president now directly 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. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on UNP shares. Benchmark upped their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Loop Capital lowered shares of Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. TD Cowen boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $295.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $263.00.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of UNP traded up $1.32 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $235.20. 3,291,145 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,308,527. The stock has a market cap of $142.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. Union Pacific Co. has a 1-year low of $218.55 and a 1-year high of $258.07. The company has a 50 day moving average of $242.68 and a 200-day moving average of $239.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.71 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.28%. 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.