Dividend Assets Capital LLC Raises Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Dividend Assets Capital LLC increased its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 2.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 37,874 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after purchasing an additional 924 shares during the period. Union Pacific accounts for about 1.7% of Dividend Assets Capital LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 23rd biggest holding. Dividend Assets Capital LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $8,637,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in UNP. Howard Capital Management Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 16.4% in the 3rd quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 2,860 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $705,000 after acquiring an additional 403 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 51.4% in the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 63,565 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $15,668,000 after purchasing an additional 21,570 shares during the period. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 7.1% in the third quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,875 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $709,000 after buying an additional 190 shares during the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 1.3% during the third quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 40,709 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $10,034,000 after buying an additional 523 shares during the period. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 19,878.6% during the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 896,040 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $220,856,000 after buying an additional 891,555 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In related news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the company’s 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 transaction, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the firm’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 transaction of $1,875,000.00. Following the sale, the president now owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.9 %

Union Pacific stock opened at $245.43 on Friday. Union Pacific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $218.55 and a fifty-two week high of $258.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $148.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $237.68 and its two-hundred day moving average is $240.69. 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 (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates 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 in the previous year, the business posted $2.71 EPS. Analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 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. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.18%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have commented on UNP. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Union Pacific from $263.00 to $252.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Raymond James reaffirmed a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $285.00 target price (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, January 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $261.40.

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.