Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC Buys 5,725 Shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 4.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 132,571 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 5,725 shares during the quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $30,232,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Compass Financial Services Inc bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Dunhill Financial LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 111.5% during the 3rd quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 129 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Peterson Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in Union Pacific in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on UNP shares. Benchmark upped their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report 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. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. 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's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $261.40.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the transaction, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares of the company's stock, valued at $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. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Union Pacific Price Performance

NYSE:UNP traded up $1.30 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $244.91. The stock had a trading volume of 230,259 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,292,906. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $218.55 and a one year high of $258.07. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $240.34 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $240.97. 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 has a market capitalization of $148.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.07, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06.

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 firm earned $2.71 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.19%. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

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.