Rodgers Brothers Inc. Has $9.02 Million Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Rodgers Brothers Inc. raised its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 1.1% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 39,557 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 425 shares during the quarter. Union Pacific makes up about 1.2% of Rodgers Brothers Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th largest position. Rodgers Brothers Inc.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $9,021,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNP. Summit Financial LLC raised its holdings in Union Pacific by 1.5% during the fourth quarter. Summit Financial LLC now owns 17,154 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $3,912,000 after buying an additional 251 shares in the last quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 223.2% during the 4th quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 307 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $70,000 after acquiring an additional 212 shares during the last quarter. D L Carlson Investment Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 22.6% in the 4th quarter. D L Carlson Investment Group Inc. now owns 2,007 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $458,000 after acquiring an additional 370 shares in the last quarter. Partners in Financial Planning acquired a new stake in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $274,000. Finally, O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Union Pacific by 17.3% during the fourth quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 127,758 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $29,134,000 after purchasing an additional 18,886 shares during the period. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the company’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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $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.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE UNP opened at $232.06 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $140.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.93, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Union Pacific Co. has a 1-year low of $218.55 and a 1-year high of $258.07. The company has a 50 day moving average of $243.11 and a 200-day moving average of $239.41.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 period in the previous year, the company posted $2.71 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.31%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNP has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. TD Cowen lifted their price target 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 lifted their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Raymond James restated a “strong-buy” rating and set a $285.00 target price (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Union Pacific has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $262.76.

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.