Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Sold by Maryland State Retirement & Pension System

Maryland State Retirement & Pension System reduced its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 6.7% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 32,817 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 2,368 shares during the period. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $7,484,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR bought a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth $8,507,000. Evoke Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. Evoke Wealth LLC now owns 9,668 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,205,000 after acquiring an additional 93 shares during the period. Horizon Investments LLC grew its position in shares of Union Pacific by 8.7% during the fourth quarter. Horizon Investments LLC now owns 20,380 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $4,647,000 after acquiring an additional 1,632 shares during the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 10.1% in the 4th quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 52,542 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $11,982,000 after acquiring an additional 4,820 shares during the period. Finally, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its position in Union Pacific by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 120,185 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $28,472,000 after purchasing an additional 1,991 shares during the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 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 of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This represents a 10.35 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE UNP opened at $236.84 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 12 month low of $218.55 and a 12 month high of $258.07. The company has a market cap of $143.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.36, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $242.35 and a 200-day simple moving average of $240.38.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last announced its earnings results 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 net margin of 27.82% and a return on equity of 41.12%. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.71 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 48.33%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have commented on UNP. Benchmark raised their price target on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. TD Cowen raised their target price on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 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. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $295.00 price objective for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $263.00.

Union Pacific Company 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.