Vanguard Group Inc. Grows Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP - Free Report) by 0.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 58,964,537 shares of the railroad operator's stock after purchasing an additional 113,343 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. owned 9.73% of Union Pacific worth $13,446,273,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Compass Financial Services Inc acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Dunhill Financial LLC raised its position in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. PrairieView Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $34,000. Finally, Kentucky Trust Co acquired a new position in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $40,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently weighed in on UNP shares. Guggenheim boosted 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. Susquehanna reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $255.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday. Loop Capital lowered Union Pacific from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $265.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Benchmark lifted their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Union Pacific has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $262.76.

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Union Pacific Price Performance

Union Pacific stock traded down $1.96 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $236.07. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,913,917 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,300,716. 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 Co. has a fifty-two week low of $218.55 and a fifty-two week high of $258.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $142.65 billion, a PE ratio of 21.29, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $243.15 and its 200 day simple moving average is $239.69.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 earnings per share 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 quarter last year, the company earned $2.71 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.27%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling

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 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 in the company, valued at $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 at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total value of $1,636,740.00. Following 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 Company 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.