National Pension Service Grows Stock Holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

National Pension Service lifted its stake in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 5.2% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 1,163,405 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 57,407 shares during the quarter. National Pension Service’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $265,303,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Fjell Capital LLC purchased a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth $690,000. Advisor OS LLC grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 10.5% during the 4th quarter. Advisor OS LLC now owns 3,134 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $715,000 after buying an additional 298 shares in the last quarter. Cutter & CO Brokerage Inc. increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 18.7% during the fourth quarter. Cutter & CO Brokerage Inc. now owns 24,759 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $5,646,000 after buying an additional 3,898 shares during the period. Lake Street Advisors Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Lake Street Advisors Group LLC now owns 8,125 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,853,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kirtland Hills Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 6.2% during the 4th quarter. Kirtland Hills Capital Management LLC now owns 3,217 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $734,000 after acquiring an additional 188 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNP has been the subject of several recent research reports. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Benchmark increased their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $267.00 to $265.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Raymond James reiterated a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $285.00 target price (up 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 assigned a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $261.40.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In related news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of Union Pacific 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 of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Union Pacific Trading Up 1.4 %

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $245.83 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Union Pacific Co. has a 52-week low of $218.55 and a 52-week high of $258.66. The stock has a market cap of $148.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.17, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $238.19 and a 200-day moving average price of $240.80.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) 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 net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.71 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.18%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 48.33%.

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.