Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. Increases Position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP)

Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP) by 2.7% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 314,862 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after buying an additional 8,282 shares during the period. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd.’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $71,801,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Broadway Wealth Solutions Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $270,000. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Union Pacific by 7,152.9% during the 4th quarter. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC now owns 5,077 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $1,158,000 after acquiring an additional 5,007 shares during the last quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Union Pacific by 10,507.9% during the 4th quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 25,459 shares of the railroad operator’s stock worth $5,806,000 after acquiring an additional 25,219 shares in the last quarter. Easterly Investment Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth about $5,197,000. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,927,377,000. 80.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts recently commented on UNP shares. Raymond James reiterated a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $285.00 price target (up from $265.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $260.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, March 7th. They set a “buy” rating and a $295.00 price target on the stock. Guggenheim lifted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $266.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their target price on shares of Union Pacific from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $262.76.

Union Pacific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNP opened at $236.07 on Friday. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $218.55 and a 12 month high of $258.07. 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 stock’s 50 day moving average price is $243.15 and its 200 day moving average price is $239.69. The stock has a market cap of $142.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.29, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP) last issued its quarterly 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 firm earned $2.71 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a $1.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $5.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.27%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In related news, President Elizabeth F. Whited sold 7,500 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the president now owns 64,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,240,000. This trade represents a 10.35 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Craig V. Richardson sold 6,495 shares of the business’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 sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,632,388. The trade was a 19.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.