Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Acquired by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 1.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 120,185 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 1,991 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' holdings in Union Pacific were worth $28,472,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Compass Financial Services Inc purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $29,000. Dunhill Financial LLC boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 111.5% in the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 129 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. PrairieView Partners LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Kentucky Trust Co acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $40,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

UNP traded up $0.70 on Tuesday, hitting $235.90. 1,849,031 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,306,823. Union Pacific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $218.55 and a fifty-two week high of $258.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77. The firm has a market capitalization of $142.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The business's fifty day moving average is $242.85 and its 200 day moving average is $239.83.

Remove Ads

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 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 previous year, the company posted $2.71 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.27%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.33%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Loop Capital downgraded Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $265.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $263.00.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated 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. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred 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 directly owns 26,319 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific 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.