Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Sees Significant Growth in Short Interest

Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totalling 7,660,000 shares, an increase of 28.3% from the February 13th total of 5,970,000 shares. Currently, 1.3% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,730,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.8 days.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 in the company, valued at $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.

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Institutional Trading of Union Pacific

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Compass Financial Services Inc bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. Dunhill Financial LLC grew its position in Union Pacific by 111.5% during the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 129 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 68 shares during the period. Peterson Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in Union Pacific during the third quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, EnRich Financial Partners LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter valued at about $31,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.7 %

UNP traded down $1.56 during trading on Friday, hitting $233.23. 1,046,821 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,294,138. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The business's 50 day moving average is $242.51 and its two-hundred day moving average is $240.31. Union Pacific has a fifty-two week low of $218.55 and a fifty-two week high of $258.07. The stock has a market cap of $140.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.02, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping 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 period last year, the business posted $2.71 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Union Pacific will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid 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 2.30%. Union Pacific's payout ratio is 48.33%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently issued reports on UNP. Guggenheim lifted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. TD Cowen boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, March 7th. They set a "buy" rating and a $295.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Raymond James reissued a "strong-buy" rating and set a $285.00 target price (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned 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, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $263.00.

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.