Sei Investments Co. Increases Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Sei Investments Co. lifted its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 8.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 262,987 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 20,147 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $59,971,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Compass Financial Services Inc acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $29,000. Dunhill Financial LLC raised its position in shares of Union Pacific by 111.5% in the 3rd quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 129 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares during the period. PrairieView Partners LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Finally, Kentucky Trust Co bought a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $40,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently issued reports on UNP. Benchmark upped their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Raymond James reissued a "strong-buy" rating and issued a $285.00 target price (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup increased 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. Susquehanna cut their price target on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued 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 stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $262.76.

Remove Ads

Union Pacific Stock Performance

UNP traded down $1.96 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $236.07. The company had a trading volume of 1,913,917 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,300,118. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $243.12 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $239.72. 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 Co. has a 12-month low of $218.55 and a 12-month high of $258.07. The stock has a market cap of $142.65 billion, a PE ratio of 21.29, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) 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 prior year, the company earned $2.71 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed 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 is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.27%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is 48.33%.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In related 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 transaction, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, 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 directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About Union Pacific

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.