Gulf International Bank UK Ltd Cuts Stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Gulf International Bank UK Ltd cut its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 0.9% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 47,213 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 441 shares during the quarter. Gulf International Bank UK Ltd’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $10,766,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Howard Capital Management Group LLC lifted its position 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 worth $705,000 after purchasing an additional 403 shares during the period. Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC raised its stake in Union Pacific by 3.4% in the third quarter. Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC now owns 3,040 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $751,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 25.2% in the third quarter. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC now owns 2,050 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $473,000 after purchasing an additional 413 shares during the period. abrdn plc increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 21.8% in the third quarter. abrdn plc now owns 380,460 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $93,182,000 after purchasing an additional 68,035 shares during the period. Finally, Gateway Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the third quarter valued at about $216,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Union Pacific Stock Down 0.2 %

UNP stock opened at $245.39 on Thursday. Union Pacific Co. has a 1-year low of $218.55 and a 1-year high of $258.07. The firm has a market cap of $148.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.13, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $238.61 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $240.83.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 period in the prior year, the company earned $2.71 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.18%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is currently 48.33%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently commented on UNP shares. Benchmark raised their target price on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Guggenheim raised 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. Raymond James reiterated a “strong-buy” rating and set a $285.00 price objective (up previously from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, January 24th. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on Union Pacific from $275.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price objective on Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $261.40.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Union Pacific news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of the business’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 value of $1,875,000.00. Following the sale, the president now owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 27th. The stock was 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 represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

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.