Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Sold by Swedbank AB

Swedbank AB reduced its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 5.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 136,997 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 7,216 shares during the quarter. Swedbank AB's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $31,241,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Field & Main Bank increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Field & Main Bank now owns 7,234 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,650,000 after acquiring an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 10.3% during the 4th quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 69,343 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $15,813,000 after purchasing an additional 6,452 shares during the period. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 53.9% in the 4th quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 839,672 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $191,479,000 after buying an additional 294,230 shares in the last quarter. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at $43,000. Finally, BetterWealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth about $541,000. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Union Pacific Price Performance

NYSE:UNP opened at $249.75 on Friday. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $218.55 and a 52 week high of $258.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.77. The company has a market capitalization of $151.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.93, a PEG ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a 50-day moving average of $235.09 and a 200-day moving average of $240.01.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 27.33%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.71 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th were given a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 9th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.15%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 49.22%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction 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 in the company, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently weighed in on UNP shares. Susquehanna cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. 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 report on Friday, January 24th. Raymond James reissued a "strong-buy" rating and set a $285.00 target price (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup increased their price objective on Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein cut their target price on Union Pacific from $277.00 to $272.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $263.30.

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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate reporting. This story was reviewed by MarketBeat's editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.