AIA Group Ltd Cuts Stock Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

AIA Group Ltd lessened its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 60.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,671 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 4,059 shares during the quarter. AIA Group Ltd's holdings in Union Pacific were worth $609,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Partners in Financial Planning bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $274,000. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 17.3% during the 4th quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 127,758 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $29,134,000 after acquiring an additional 18,886 shares during the period. Clearbridge Investments LLC grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 9.3% during the 4th quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 4,649,767 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,060,333,000 after purchasing an additional 397,185 shares in the last quarter. ClearBridge Investments Ltd lifted its position in Union Pacific by 2.8% during the fourth quarter. ClearBridge Investments Ltd now owns 988,458 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $225,408,000 after purchasing an additional 26,489 shares during the period. Finally, RWA Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in Union Pacific by 4.1% in the 4th quarter. RWA Wealth Partners LLC now owns 116,916 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $26,661,000 after buying an additional 4,592 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the company's stock.

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Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In other news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $1,875,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of Union Pacific 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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Union Pacific Trading Up 0.5 %

NYSE UNP traded up $1.17 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $238.34. The stock had a trading volume of 2,023,200 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,429,422. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.77. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $243.22 and a 200 day simple moving average of $239.23. Union Pacific Co. has a one year low of $218.55 and a one year high of $258.07. The stock has a market capitalization of $142.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.49, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.76 by $0.15. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.71 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have weighed in on UNP. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Susquehanna cut their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Guggenheim increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $261.95.

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.