PNC Financial Services Group Inc. Trims Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

PNC Financial Services Group Inc. reduced its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 4.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,389,392 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 63,893 shares during the quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. owned approximately 0.23% of Union Pacific worth $316,837,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 5.5% during the fourth quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 482,541 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $118,613,000 after buying an additional 25,062 shares during the period. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 99.5% during the fourth quarter. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. now owns 262,914 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $59,955,000 after buying an additional 131,118 shares during the period. EFG Asset Management Americas Corp. acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $6,731,000. Novus Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth $790,000. Finally, BBR Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 2.5% during the fourth quarter. BBR Partners LLC now owns 19,952 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $4,550,000 after buying an additional 490 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated 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 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 transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the firm's 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 transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Union Pacific Stock Up 1.9 %

Shares of Union Pacific stock traded up $4.57 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $249.84. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,835,489 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,302,398. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $218.55 and a one year high of $258.07. The company has a market capitalization of $150.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.53, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $241.04 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $240.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77.

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, beating analysts' consensus estimates 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 company earned $2.71 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.15%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on UNP shares. Raymond James reiterated a "strong-buy" rating and set a $285.00 price objective (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, January 24th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. TD Cowen increased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday. They set a "buy" rating and a $295.00 target price on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $263.00.

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.