Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) Shares Purchased by Trek Financial LLC

Trek Financial LLC increased its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 41.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,043 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 1,181 shares during the quarter. Trek Financial LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $922,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of UNP. Titleist Asset Management LLC grew its position in Union Pacific by 5.3% during the 4th quarter. Titleist Asset Management LLC now owns 3,960 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $903,000 after purchasing an additional 198 shares during the period. Cascades Capital Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 6.2% during the fourth quarter. Cascades Capital Asset Management LLC now owns 1,518 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $346,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares during the period. Mirabaud Asset Management Ltd grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 102.8% during the fourth quarter. Mirabaud Asset Management Ltd now owns 6,016 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $1,370,000 after acquiring an additional 3,049 shares during the period. Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Co lifted its holdings in Union Pacific by 33.6% in the fourth quarter. Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Co now owns 87,500 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $19,954,000 after acquiring an additional 22,000 shares during the period. Finally, Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its position in Union Pacific by 6.9% in the 4th quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 485,621 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $110,727,000 after purchasing an additional 31,184 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on UNP shares. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $295.00 price objective for the company. Citigroup raised their target price on Union Pacific from $254.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on Union Pacific from $253.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Susquehanna dropped their price objective on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $255.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Union Pacific presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $261.95.

Insider Activity at Union Pacific

In other news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,632,388. This represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $1,875,000.00. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 64,960 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,240,000. The trade was a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Union Pacific Stock Down 5.0 %

UNP stock opened at $212.86 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $127.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.19, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $242.01 and a two-hundred day moving average of $238.66. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $202.38 and a 12 month high of $258.07. 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 (NYSE:UNP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.91 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.71 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were given a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.52%. Union Pacific’s payout ratio is 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.