Hancock Whitney Corp Has $1.50 Million Stock Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Hancock Whitney Corp lifted its holdings in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 107.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 6,572 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,397 shares during the period. Hancock Whitney Corp’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,499,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of UNP. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth about $1,927,377,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,035,905,000. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 12.6% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,430,581 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $3,282,305,000 after acquiring an additional 1,616,895 shares in the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors increased its stake in Union Pacific by 14.3% in the fourth quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,395,364 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $2,370,559,000 after acquiring an additional 1,298,178 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its position in Union Pacific by 74.7% during the fourth quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 2,146,990 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $489,600,000 after purchasing an additional 918,248 shares in the last quarter. 80.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total transaction of $1,636,740.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,632,388. This trade represents a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Union Pacific Stock Down 1.0 %

NYSE:UNP opened at $213.35 on Friday. Union Pacific Co. has a 1-year low of $204.66 and a 1-year high of $258.07. The company has a market capitalization of $127.86 billion, a PE ratio of 19.24, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.06. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $231.67 and its 200-day moving average price is $235.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.62.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.70 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.79 by ($0.09). The company had revenue of $6.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.11 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 41.12% and a net margin of 27.82%. On average, equities analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a dividend of $1.34 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.51%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is 48.33%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNP has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Benchmark boosted their price target on Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Citigroup upgraded shares of Union Pacific from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and reduced their price target for the company from $260.00 to $244.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $255.00 to $230.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Raymond James restated a “strong-buy” rating on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday. Finally, TD Cowen increased their price target on Union Pacific from $245.00 to $258.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $255.82.

Union Pacific 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.