Strategic Financial Concepts LLC Invests $16.75 Million in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Strategic Financial Concepts LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 73,441 shares of the railroad operator's stock, valued at approximately $16,747,000. Union Pacific accounts for about 0.5% of Strategic Financial Concepts LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest position.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. State Street Corp lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 0.9% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 24,788,337 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $6,109,829,000 after purchasing an additional 217,780 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 12,813,686 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $3,146,451,000 after buying an additional 182,620 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its holdings in shares of 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 buying an additional 625,492 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Union Pacific by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 6,285,585 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,549,271,000 after acquiring an additional 143,896 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,020,107 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,237,356,000 after acquiring an additional 31,899 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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 transaction, the president now directly 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 sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed 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 stock was 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 owns 26,319 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.26% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Down 1.7 %

Shares of NYSE:UNP traded down $4.15 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $247.02. 2,488,471 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,721,523. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $236.93 and its 200-day moving average price is $240.52. The stock has a market capitalization of $149.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.27, a PEG ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.06. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $218.55 and a 12-month high of $258.66.

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, 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 quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.71 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 12.01 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. Shareholders 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 2.17%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Benchmark increased their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Loop Capital lowered 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 report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Raymond James reiterated a "strong-buy" rating and issued a $285.00 target price (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $261.40.

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.