Taurus Asset Management LLC Has $9.70 Million Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Taurus Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 32.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 42,546 shares of the railroad operator's stock after buying an additional 10,315 shares during the quarter. Taurus Asset Management LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $9,702,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. World Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 103.1% in the third quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 35,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $8,770,000 after acquiring an additional 18,060 shares during the last quarter. abrdn plc increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 9.3% during the fourth quarter. abrdn plc now owns 415,874 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $94,588,000 after acquiring an additional 35,414 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 179,925 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $44,348,000 after buying an additional 4,939 shares during the period. Border to Coast Pensions Partnership Ltd grew 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 worth $63,185,000 after acquiring an additional 53,946 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pensionfund Sabic increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 61.5% during the 4th quarter. Pensionfund Sabic now owns 10,500 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $2,394,000 after purchasing an additional 4,000 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have weighed in on UNP. Redburn Atlantic upgraded Union Pacific from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $259.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Raymond James dropped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $285.00 to $260.00 and set a "strong-buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Guggenheim lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Susquehanna cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $255.00 to $245.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned 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 currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $257.50.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.7 %

Shares of UNP stock traded up $3.66 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $220.26. The company's stock had a trading volume of 4,545,766 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,539,496. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The firm has a market capitalization of $132.01 billion, a PE ratio of 19.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $235.57 and its 200-day simple moving average is $236.64. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $204.66 and a 12-month high of $258.07.

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 the consensus estimate 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 company posted $2.71 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.43%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In related news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total value of $1,636,740.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, 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 transaction of $1,875,000.00. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.19% 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.