Sit Investment Associates Inc. Has $9.97 Million Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Sit Investment Associates Inc. lowered its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 53.7% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 43,715 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 50,685 shares during the period. Sit Investment Associates Inc.'s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $9,969,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Howard Capital Management Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 16.4% during the 3rd quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 2,860 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $705,000 after buying an additional 403 shares during the period. Janus Henderson Group PLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 32.3% during the third quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 100,483 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $24,755,000 after acquiring an additional 24,518 shares during the period. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 43.3% in the third quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 42,124 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $10,383,000 after purchasing an additional 12,736 shares during the last quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 5.9% during the third quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 215,871 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $53,208,000 after purchasing an additional 12,121 shares during the period. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 47.7% in the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 419,509 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $103,400,000 after purchasing an additional 135,544 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

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Union Pacific Trading Down 0.7 %

Shares of Union Pacific stock traded down $1.47 on Friday, hitting $217.86. The stock had a trading volume of 952,052 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,509,093. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $237.98 and a 200 day moving average of $237.47. 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 twelve month low of $204.66 and a twelve month high of $258.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $130.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.62, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06.

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 (EPS) 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 in the prior year, the company earned $2.71 earnings per share. 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 business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were given a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.46%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.33%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have weighed in on UNP. Citigroup raised Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $260.00 to $244.00 in a report on Tuesday. Raymond James dropped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set a "strong-buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Guggenheim increased their price target on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $259.18.

Insider Activity

In other Union Pacific news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the 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 owns 26,319 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 transaction, 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 position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

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.