Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Acquired by Geode Capital Management LLC

Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 12.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 14,430,581 shares of the railroad operator's stock after acquiring an additional 1,616,895 shares during the quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC owned about 2.38% of Union Pacific worth $3,282,305,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Howard Capital Management Group LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 16.4% during the third quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 2,860 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $705,000 after purchasing an additional 403 shares in the last quarter. Erste Asset Management GmbH acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the third quarter worth approximately $7,661,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter worth about $923,000. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at approximately $1,289,000. Finally, Benjamin Edwards Inc. lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 940.7% in the third quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 25,529 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $6,297,000 after buying an additional 23,076 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Up 0.5 %

UNP traded up $1.17 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $238.34. 2,023,200 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,429,422. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The stock has a market capitalization of $142.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.49, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $243.22 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $239.23. Union Pacific Co. has a 12-month low of $218.55 and a 12-month high of $258.07.

Remove Ads

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last announced its 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 last year, the business earned $2.71 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently issued reports on UNP. Citigroup boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Raymond James reaffirmed a "strong-buy" rating and issued a $285.00 price objective (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $295.00 price target for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $261.95.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 sale, the president now owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the firm's 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 sale, the executive vice president now 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. 0.28% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.