Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY Grows Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY grew its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 2.7% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 24,085 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 628 shares during the quarter. Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $5,492,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Stephens Inc. AR boosted its holdings in Union Pacific by 8.8% during the fourth quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 46,715 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $10,653,000 after purchasing an additional 3,771 shares during the last quarter. Howland Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Howland Capital Management LLC now owns 116,426 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $26,550,000 after buying an additional 3,382 shares in the last quarter. Richard C. Young & CO. LTD. boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Richard C. Young & CO. LTD. now owns 46,111 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $10,515,000 after buying an additional 301 shares during the last quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 150.7% in the fourth quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 14,718 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $3,353,000 after acquiring an additional 8,848 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC increased its position in shares of Union Pacific by 20.7% during the fourth quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 43,410 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $9,899,000 after acquiring an additional 7,432 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Price Performance

NYSE:UNP opened at $242.12 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $146.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.83, a P/E/G ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.77. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $235.14 and a 200 day moving average of $240.17. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $218.55 and a 52-week high of $258.66.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 last year, the business earned $2.71 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Union Pacific Co. will post 12.01 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.21%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 48.33%.

Insider Transactions at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. 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 firm’s stock in a transaction dated 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 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. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNP has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $288.00 to $283.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. TD Cowen boosted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $261.40.

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.