Stonegate Investment Group LLC Acquires 1,327 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Stonegate Investment Group LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 3.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 42,937 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 1,327 shares during the quarter. Stonegate Investment Group LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $9,791,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. World Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 103.1% during the 3rd quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 35,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $8,770,000 after buying an additional 18,060 shares in the last quarter. Peoples Bank KS purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the third quarter worth about $834,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its position in Union Pacific by 2.8% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 179,925 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $44,348,000 after purchasing an additional 4,939 shares during the period. Maj Invest Holding A S boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Maj Invest Holding A S now owns 676,098 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $166,645,000 after acquiring an additional 2,202 shares during the period. Finally, Border to Coast Pensions Partnership Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 24.2% in the fourth quarter. Border to Coast Pensions Partnership Ltd now owns 277,267 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $63,185,000 after purchasing an additional 53,946 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on 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 sale, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company's stock, valued at $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.8 %

NYSE:UNP traded down $2.07 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $247.85. The stock had a trading volume of 1,678,526 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,843,518. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.63. The stock has a market cap of $150.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.35, a PEG ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.06. The business's 50 day moving average is $235.31 and its 200 day moving average is $240.08. Union Pacific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $218.55 and a fifty-two week high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data 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 period last year, the firm posted $2.71 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 12.03 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th were issued a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 9th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.16%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.33%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. TD Cowen increased their price target on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Raymond James restated a "strong-buy" rating and issued a $285.00 target price (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $263.30.

Union Pacific Company 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.